In 2001 MTV Films produced “Save The Last Dance“, directed by Thomas Carter and distributed by Paramount. The film stars Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas as an interracial couple in Chicago. The teenage stars team up to help Stiles’ character prepare for a Julliard School dance audition. With a $27.5 million opening weekend, the 2001 release opened at the top of the box office in North America. As of September 2024, the rotten tomatoes score was at %54, and the popcorn score of %59. But, It took home the title for another week, generating $131.7 million globally, despite a %44 drop in earnings.
What is the movie about?
Thomas Carter’s 2001 film “Save the Last Dance” centers on Julia Stiles’s character Sara Johnson, a young ballerina. Sara relocates to Chicago to live with her distant father after the loss of her mother. While there, she develops feelings for Derek, a high school student in the area played by Sean Patrick Thomas. While adjusting to her new surroundings and overcoming the social and cultural obstacles, Sara fights to keep her aspirations of becoming a professional ballet dancer alive.
Message/Central Theme
The movie examines personal aspirations, racial and social differences, and the transformational potential of love and self-discovery. The main idea centers on the meeting point of cultural and personal identity, emphasizing how even though we may look different there is always something we have in common. The passion for different forms of dance causes Sara and Derek to bond, giving Sara a taste of hip-hop culture and history will also push each other to pursue their dreams.
Negatives in the film
The movie “Save the Last Dance” touches on racial and cultural divides through dance, however, it oversimplifies the characters’ hardships on a day-to-day basis. Sara and Derek fall in love while bonding over black culture, hip-hop, and different types of dance. In the end, they demonstrate how dance can unite people from diverse cultural backgrounds, yet it tends to overlook the difficulties these characters encounter in favor of a sentimental rather than practical answer. For example, Sara’s relatively easy acceptance into Derek’s prominently Black social circle seems unrealistic especially during that time, given the racial tensions that could arise. The movie briefly touches on this through the character of Nikki, Derek’s ex-girlfriend, who resents Sara for dating Eric. “You’ll never look as good as she does with him,” says Malakai, Derek’s best friend. For instance, would be when Nikki says “It’s about you, white girls like you. Creeping up taking our men. The whole world ain’t enough you have to conquer ours too.”
Who should watch it and why?
In the 2000s this is an accurate portrayal of high school. The outfits, lunch scenes, cellular devices, and forms of hanging out. The PG-13 movie can be streamed on Netflix, Paramount+, YouTube, Amazon Prime, and more. This movie can be relatable to some but it also brings you on a small ride of emotions. The teenage love story between Derek and Sara is a dream for some teenagers today, a representation of real love. The cute dates, going out together, sneaking into dance studios, and the support shown by one another. People from the ages of 13-22 may enjoy sitting back and watching this film. There is no heavy use of derogatory terms, but some scenes get intimate. The movie does a good job of illustrating how art can unite people and dissolve barriers like the scenes in the club. Stiles and Thomas have strong on-screen chemistry, and their relationship feels genuine and heartfelt, making the audience root for them. Additionally, the soundtrack does a perfect job of capturing the mood of each scene and the energy.
