Romancing Sydney

Romancing Sydney is a unique drama/romcom structured around 6 intricate dance routines. Following 3 different relationships and set amidst an iconic background, it is a swing-and-a-miss of a film that tries something really interesting but falls down due to poor dialogue and a confusing set of stories.

The film is set around 3 separate relationships in Sydney. Sachin (Anmol Mishra) and Elisa (Susanne Richter) who are drawn together by a shared event, Lilli (Gabrielle Chan) and George (Peter Hayes) who are coworkers with a secret, and Zac (Brendon Wong) and Alex (Connor Dowling) who share a passion for dance. Their stories are told through traditional narrative, before passion and emotion are symbolically explored through powerful dance sequences.

It is in these dance sequences where Romancing Sydney excels. Director Anmol Mishra shoots these with intricacy and purpose. The motions of the dancers are dynamic and spring to life from the screen, brilliantly matching plot and character developments. The cast are talented dancers, and it is clear that the movie’s primary purpose is to demonstrate and take advantage of their gifts as such. In this regard, it is a rousing success.

Whilst much of the rest of the film feels designed as a vehicle to get to these triumphant moments, the drama around them falls flat. None of the cast are particularly strong actors, with stunted, wooden delivery of lines befalling each of the three different story threads – but particularly that of Lilli and George. It becomes a significant distraction given their extended length, and damages viewer immersion and investment in the blossoming romances that play out much more passionately in the dance sequences. And whilst the stories themselves are largely believable and unique, there’s little in the way of an unexplored ‘hook’ that will really entice audiences.

As well as the strength of the choreography, the cinematography is vibrant, alive and crisp – a result of considered design and technical consideration from Mishra. The city of Sydney is woven into the narrative, with backdrops used to particular effect in one dance sequence where iconic buildings are projected over the dancer’s bodies. It’s moving (if a little on the nose) and helps in implanting a sense of place and time into the story.

It feels a little lazy to say that Romancing Sydney is for dance fans, but in truth one needs to have a true appreciation for the art to really enjoy this film. Were the entirety of the feature like the non-dance sequences, the limp storylines and sub-par acting would put off anyone. But the artistry and choreography of the dances are a triumph, and worth checking out if this sounds appealing. Otherwise this is one romance where the chemistry just is not there.