Suo, Kusakari to Make Dance Film about Chaplin

TOKYO — Filmmaker Masayuki Suo, 53, will direct his wife, former ballerina Tamiyo Kusakari, 45, in his upcoming film, “Dancing Chaplin.” The film is inspired by world-famous dancer Luigi Bonino’s stage performance based on early film-era comedian Charlie Chaplin.
Last year, the director captured on film his wife’s final performance as a ballet dancer. The couple began a relationship in 1996 on the set of the Japanese film, “Shall we Dance?”
The film will be a re-imagining of the stage performance of the same name, choreographed by dancer Roland Petit, now 86 years old. Suo said the film—set for release in April or May, 2011—will aim to capture the feel of Chaplin films and will be broken into two acts, reminiscent of a stage ballet performance.