Japanese poster for Strictly Ballroom

Film posters play a significant role during the theatrical life of a film, by creating interest in an upcoming release and hinting at plot, genre, cast, director and more. They can also offer us a window into understanding how a film was marketed in other countries. That is true of this Japanese poster for Strictly Ballroom (1992), which was called Dancing Hero in Japan. The poster shows star Paul Mercurio in a dancing pose and ballroom attire (one of the film's many beautiful costumes by Catherine Martin), with images of the romance in the film and competition shots. The poster conveys much about the story through its visual language, and the film's marketing was a huge success – Strictly Ballroom was a major hit in Japan, reportedly influencing the rise of dance competitions across the country. Baz Luhrmann's feature directorial debut was about a competitive ballroom dancer fed up with following the rules, who teams up with a beginner (Tara Morice) to dance their own steps at the Pan Pacific Championships.