The surprisingly resilient sub-genre of loser-learns-dance-finds-lust-for-life movies gets a French entry with this muted tale of tango and an ageing bailiff. Ordered by his doctor to take more exercise, Jean-Claude (Patrick Chesnais) finally gets the courage to start participating in lessons at a nearby dance school, where the intoxicating rhythms wake him from a life of emotional detachment.
The plot follows this dance’s steps precisely, but the nuanced performances are a joy — Jean-Claude’s scenes with his father are heartbreaking and even the smallest characters are well drawn. While the ending is a little rushed, this is still worth a spin around the floor.