Aspiring dancer Phoenix lives in the countryside with her father, but she's got her eyes set on farther places. Jumping at the chance to move to shiny Shanghai, she makes ends and dreams meet by working as a janitor at an elite dance studio where she picks up dance moves on the sly. Even with her unfailing spirit, things aren't easy for Phoenix working two jobs and putting up with the mockery from city folks. Enter her knight in shining armor, CEO and studio owner Ron, who sweeps her off her feet and gives her a spot on the dance team.
Costume
Shanghai clubwear that screams 2009 in the best way.
Acting
Zhang Yuqi sells the hell out of Phoenix's wide-eyed hustle.
Director
Stephen Fung
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Stephen Fung directed this during his pivot from actor to filmmaker, channeling Hong Kong's dance-film boom while mainland China's urban migration stories dominated rom-coms. The 'country girl conquers Shanghai' trope hit different in 2009's economic optimism.
Yuen Cheung-Yan—Phoenix's father—is legendary choreographer Yuen Woo-ping's brother, making this a stealth martial arts dynasty flex disguised as a dance movie.
CN
HK
