Filmed entirely on location in Okinawa, “Step Out” signals a turn in direction for Yukishiko Tsutsumi, who, this time, shoots a light movie about the dreams kids in the island have, with dancing being the basis of the narrative.

Step Out is screening at Cinema at Sea

Teruya is a young boy who lives with his single mother, Akane, who works cleaning hotels in the morning and in a bar at nights, in order to sustain herself, her son, and her young daughter, rather timid Mai, who almost never utters a word. Teruya finds himself drawn to dance particularly due to Lisa, a girl his age who is the star of the school he eventually attends. Teruya is clumsy and finds it very difficult to reach the level of the rest of the attendees; however, after a fateful encounter with a local mob boss, he starts to improve significantly. At the same time,...