Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School (2005)

Dance, a potent elixir, demands courage to face its trials and savor its rewards. Our protagonist, Frank Keene, a bereaved baker, is a man trapped in a near-comatose state of grief. His life takes an unexpected turn when he stumbles upon a car crash. The chatty, yet wise victim, Steve Mills, is en route to a long-overdue rendezvous in Pasadena. With his last breaths, Steve implores Frank to stand in his shoes, to attend a dance class in his stead. With hesitance, Frank steps into Steve's world, embarking on a quest to find Steve's mysterious friend. The narrative masterfully weaves between the past and the present, between Steve's innocent childhood, the chilling accident scene, and the profound impact of Frank's initial encounter with the Lindy hop. The story is painted with strokes of bruised eyes, shared confessions in group therapy, the biting chill of loneliness, the raw realness of boys growing into men, the haunting echo of the roads not chosen, and the bittersweet taste of parting words. Each element adds a unique color to this compelling tale of healing, connection, and the transformative power of dance.

Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School is a comedy movie featuring Robert Carlyle and directed by Randall Miller.

Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Freevee, Kanopy, Peacock, Peacock Premium, Plex, Plex Player, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on Amazon Prime Video and Hoopla.

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