Swing Girls

Imagine this, a film director hires 17 young girls (and a boy) and leads them through an exhausting process developing both their acting and musical talents from scratch, something none of them have done their entire lives. In the end, this talented group goes on to big success. Sounds like a movie script? It was both the plot of a hit film and a real life story!

Popular with Japanese audiences when released last September, the film chronicles the comical adventures of a group of 17 high school girls (and one boy), thrown reluctantly into summer school in a sleepy Northern Japanese town, where theyre forced to form a big band jazz group. Director Shinobu Yaguchi recaptures all the oddball charm of "Waterboys," a tale of a high school synchronized swimming team.

The DVD release of the film comes in three versions, Premium Edition, Special Edition, and Standard Edition. A soundtrack CD is also available.

But wait! There's more! In real life, the Swing Girls really have become an off-screen success, playing concerts around Japan and even at the Central Park Bandshell in New York City for both a video shoot and to commemorate the film's American premiere. Check out their live CD and DVD too!