This is your typical indie coming-of-age tale about a teenager, though it’s clearly working with a very tiny budget. Set within a migrant family living in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, the movie digs into how fragile old-school traditions and expectations can be. We follow a teenage son as he goes through the process of coming out and struggles to find acceptance while dealing with homophobia, domestic abuse, and a messy love triangle that involves his own sister. Goyo is seventeen and just about to graduate from high school. Since he’s been a bit more feminine since he was a little kid, he’s always had to deal with emotional and physical transition from his dad, Ramon, who is obsessed with him being "a man." The only real love he gets is from a lady next door who actually respects him for who he is. The family lives in a Mexican community where everyone works on a grape farm, but things get shaken up when a new guy named Lucio arrives. Lucio basically seduces Goyo ...
I’ve always been a sucker for movies about dancing and queer themes, so I was really hyped to check this one out. It’s the kind of film that moves past the usual dialogue and lets the story unfold right there on the dance floor, using movement to talk about things like rivalry, desire, and feeling exposed. The cinematography is super glitzy, and the dance numbers are just perfectly put together, thanks to the amazing lead actors—one of whom you might recognize from the Cherry Magicseries. That said, while the visuals are great, I felt like the movie hit a bit of a snag during the big emotional climax where it didn't quite sell the depth of the guys' passion as much as I wanted.
The two main characters are total opposites: Suzuki Shinya is a Latin dance champ who is all about instinct and fire, while Sugiki Shinya is a ballroom pro who lives for discipline and absolute control. Sugiki has a partner named Fusako, and while they’ve crushed it in competitions across Japan and even placed second in the world, he’s never actually managed to take home the top prize. Because they have almost the same name, the public has viewed them as rivals for years, even though their dance styles are completely different. Out of nowhere, Sugiki suggests they train together to master all ten dance styles and compete as a pair. At first, Suzuki hates the idea because he doesn't want to rely on anyone, but Sugiki knows exactly how to push his buttons. Soon, that annoyance turns into a total obsession and a collaboration that feels a bit dangerous because of the attraction bubbling underneath. They have to strip away their old habits and learn new roles through constant, intense rehearsals. They’re clearly into each other but too scared to do anything about it until Sugiki finally kisses Suzuki and invites him to join an international competition. During this time, Suzuki learns that everyone thinks Sugiki can’t be a true champion because, while his technique is flawless, he’s missing "love" in his performance. Months later at the Asia Championship, Sugiki is invited for an honor dance and shocks everyone by asking Suzuki to be his partner. They perform a full ten-dance routine that is just absolutely stunning.
I really liked how the movie uses voiceovers to explain the complicated rules of the dance world, breaking down the split between Ballroom and Latin styles so you understand why the "10 Dance" competition is such a huge deal. It feels like a high-stakes triathlon for the soul. The movie is both sophisticated and sexy, which is a tough balance to strike. That first dance lesson is burned into my brain—it’s so sensual, with a shirtless Suzuki moving in this slow, hypnotic way while the camera just lingers there. For the first half, I was totally hooked on the gay subtext, just waiting for them to finally get intimate. Both guys are incredible dancers, but they’re held back by their own baggage: Suzuki lacks focus, and Sugiki can’t stop trying to control everything.
Watching them learn from each other and push through those walls was great, and it actually opens up some interesting conversations about gender and power. Their romance is a slow burn that grows out of their rivalry because they see what the other is missing. The actors are physically impressive but also really raw emotionally, and their chemistry feels very real. I also appreciated the two female partners; they remind you that this is a story about partnership and sacrifice, not just a simple romance. By the time they hit that final ten-dance routine, the movie totally gives in to its romantic heart. It felt like watching two souls finally click into place as equals. If I had to nitpick, I wish the early dance scenes were a bit longer, but that finale really makes up for it with pure passion. It’s on Netflix now, and even though the slow, poetic pace might not be for everyone, it’s a great pick for fans of romance and dance.
It’s a gorgeous, slow-burning look at how two rivals find themselves through movement, ending in a beautiful, passionate finale that dance fans will love. (8/10)
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