Save the Last Dance (2001)
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The story
After failing a Juilliard School audition and learning her mother died in a car accident, 17-year-old Sara Johnson gives up ballet and moves to Chicago's South Side to live with her estranged father, a jazz musician. She transfers to a majority-black high school where she befriends Chenille Reynolds, a single mother. Chenille introduces Sara to a hip hop club called Stepps, where Sara meets Chenille's brother, Derek. A studious aspiring pediatrician, Derek agrees to help Sara incorporate hip hop into her dancing style as she struggles to navigate her new environment and her complicated feelings for him.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
17-year-old Sara Johnson, a promising ballet dancer in suburban Chicago, fails her Juilliard School audition and learns her mother died in a car accident. Stricken with guilt, she moves to the South Side to live with her estranged father, Roy, a jazz musician. At her new majority-black high school, she befriends Chenille Reynolds, a single mother. Chenille introduces Sara to a hip hop club called Stepps, where she meets Chenille's brother, Derek. Derek, who dreams of becoming a pediatrician, helps Sara blend hip hop into her ballet style. As they develop a romantic relationship, Sara faces social backlash from Chenille, who feels resentful over her own relationship struggles. This leads to a temporary breakup. Meanwhile, Derek tries to distance himself from his friend Malakai's gang lifestyle. After a series of heart-to-hearts and reconciliations, Derek helps Sara prepare for her audition. Sara is accepted into Juilliard, and the two rekindle their romance as Malakai is arrested for a botched drive-by.
- First release year
- 2001
- Runtime (minutes)
- 113
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Thomas Carter
- Writers
- Duane Adler · screenplay; Cheryl Edwards · screenplay; Duane Adler · story
- Cast and characters
- Julia Stiles · Sara Johnson; Sean Patrick Thomas · Derek; Kerry Washington · Chenille Reynolds; Terry Kinney · Roy; Fredro Starr · Malakai
- Genres
- dance; teen romance; drama
- Themes
- interracial romance; cultural identity; perseverance; guilt
- Tone and mood
- romantic; melodramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- dance; high school; interracial romance; coming-of-age
- Franchise connections
- Save the Last Dance
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the performances and others criticizing the clichéd story and the quality of the dance scenes.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 54% · review count: 100
- Awards and nominations
- Teen Choice Award · winning films · win
- Production trivia
- The film's hip hop dancing was mocked for resembling 'random fingerpointing and sitting awkwardly in a chair'.; The film debuted at number 1 at the North American box office.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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