Smile (Sumairu seiya no kiseki/スマイル 聖夜の奇跡-2007)

Starring:
Natsuki Harada
Rosa Kato
Kumiko Mori
Mirai Moriyama
Anri Okamoto
Rikiya
Jiro Sato
Saya Takagi
Yoshiko Tanaka
Kei Tani
Sachie Hara
Kenji Sakaguchi
Naoko Iijima

After sustaining a career-ending injury, tap dancer, Shuhei Sano (Mirai Moriyama), arrives in Japan's snow-bound, northern island of Hokkaido with hopes of marrying his longtime girlfriend and figure skating instructor, Shizuka (Rosa Kato). But his plan quickly runs afoul on Shizuka's father, a local business magnate and ice rink owner, who is not ready to relinquish his daughter. Without good reason to deny the couple, however, the father reluctantly agrees to give his blessing if Shuhei can coach a local junior ice hockey team to their next victory. Despite having no prior knowledge of the game nor any skating experience, Shuhei accepts, unaware that the team has NEVER won a single game.

The"Smilers", as they seem unfittingly named, are a handful of self-proclaimed"losers","misfits" and"rejects" from other teams. More than talent, they lack any semblance of teamwork, motivation and confidence. But to everybody's surprise, Shuhei proves himself ready for them, employing an odd mix of child psychology, genuine concern and a few ingenious tricks to get the team to play to their potential and win!. Flabbergasted, Shizuka's father ups the ante by making his daughter's hand conditional upon winning the regional tournament − a goal that will require nothing short of a miracle given the near invincibility of the defending champions − a slick, well-financed hockey team run by a megalomaniac.

Just as Shuhei's magic and the team's hopes begin to wear thin, a beautiful young figure skater idolized by everyone at the rink becomes hospitalized with a terminal illness. With her chances of recovery as slim as the team's tournament victory, suddenly, the team has its battle cry. But will it be enough?




Wow! This was a really good movie! It's like Pride blended with the Mighty Duck movies.

I will tell ya now. This is a family movie for everyone! And that you will need a few tissues at the end. Okay, I'll admit I probably cried more than I should have but today I've seem to have hit emotional movies today. LOL! That's okay though. I need to cry now and then.

This was a heartwarming, touching, loving, friendly, heart-tugging, eventful rollercoaster ride. The story revolves around the hockey team but I don't think it was really about the hockey team, per se. It revolved around the relationships outside the hockey arena and the kids who made the plays. And we can't forget the coach, who didn't lose hope when his knee gave out and he was no longer allowed to dance on stage. But instead, he chose to his second choice in life that dealt with teaching children. Awe-inspiring, it is!!

Moriyama Mirai


Tamaki Hiroshi

I can't help myself with Tamaki-kun! This is THE man who changed my life forever! Yeah, him! I happened upon Nodame Cantabile, watched it, and had to have to watch more Japanese drama....then Korean....then Taiwan/Chinese. I fell in love with him and had to watch everything with him in it. The only thing I still haven't seen is ROCKERS! Anyone know where I can watch it/buy it English subbed.....EMAIL ME!!!!!

Sakaguchi Kenji