Dancing at the Blue Iguana is an American drama film, released in 2000, directed by Michael Radford about the lives of strippers in an adult club.
The film was based on an improvisational workshop involving the lead actors. It explores the intersecting lives of five exotic dancers who work at a San Fernando Valley strip club, the Blue Iguana, and the difficulties in their lives.
Angel (Daryl Hannah) wishes for a baby of her own or a foster child to take care of, but her messy, dysfunctional existence makes this an impossible dream. Jo (Jennifer Tilly) is pregnant, but wants an abortion, and can barely contain her rage at the world. Jasmine (Sandra Oh) writes beautiful poetry on the side and finally finds a boyfriend. She tells him she's a stripper, but he maintains that he is all right with it. However, once he sees her dance at the club, he disapproves silently and leaves.
Jesse (Charlotte Ayanna), the youngest and newest stripper looks for acceptance and love among the strippers and customers, but is eventually beaten by her boyfriend, leading her to drink and depression; and Stormy (Sheila Kelley) is having an incestuous relationship with her brother.
In 2001, actress Daryl Hannah released a one-hour companion documentary, Strip Notes, based on her experience researching her role as a stripper in the film, which is included as an extra on the Dancing at the Blue Iguana DVD. Hannah also stars along with Charlotte Ayanna, Elias Koteas, Jennifer Tilly and Sandra Oh.
Read more about Dancing At The Blue Iguana: Cast
Famous quotes containing the words dancing and/or blue:
“Johann Strauss—Forty couples dancing ... one by one they slip from the hall ... sounds of kisses ... the lights go out”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)
“Two wooden tubs of blue hydrangeas stand at the foot of the stone steps.
The sky is a blue gum streaked with rose. The trees are black.
The grackles crack their throats of bone in the smooth air.
Moisture and heat have swollen the garden into a slum of bloom.
Pardie! Summer is like a fat beast, sleepy in mildew....”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)