Strictly Ballroom, Baz Luhrmann’s audacious, award-winning directorial debut, soars off the screen with unrestrained style and verve. Both heart-warming romantic comedy and thrilling sports movie in one, Luhrmann’s film is the ultimate crowd-pleasing, edge-of-your-seat cinematic confection.

Talented ballroom dancer Scott is chafing under the yoke of the dusty and unimaginative style of traditional ballroom, which forbids innovative steps and personal expression. Then along comes Fran, a shy but daring neophyte who longs to shine on the dance floor. Together, they take on the ballroom establishment at the all-important (and hilariously titled) Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Dancing Championship. The explosive final sequence is legitimately heart-pounding.

Made with zero regard for subtlety and good taste, Luhrmann’s hectic and colour-saturated film gleefully cranks the melodrama to 11. It is also unabashedly unconventional in style and form, mixing classical narrative with faux documentary and avant-garde touches to great effect. Strictly Ballroom is definitely not strictly cinema. But then again, neither it nor we want it to be.