A dance romance film that tackles the topics of racial segregation and interracial relationships. Wow! I think Save The Last Dance is one of the golden films of the 2000s and features Julia Stiles in the highlight of her acting career, just fresh off the 10 Things I Hate About You haze.
Released by Paramount Pictures on January 12 2001, Save The Last Dance follows seventeen-year-old ballet dancer Sara Johnson (Julia Stiles), who goes to live with her estranged dad after the sudden demise of her mother. Sara feels haunted by her mom's passing as she was rushing to get to her daughter's dance audition for Juilliard School.
Forced to start high school life in a totally different background, aka the hood, from her former suburban Chicago, Sara makes some friends, including Chenille Reynolds and her brother Derek, who they later date.
A beautiful dance and loving partnership between Sara and Derek develop, where he helps her prep for her new Juilliard audition and also get in the pocket of hip hop dance. However, external forces make the couple question the essence of their relationship and the meaning of friendship.
Sara has to overlook the white girl privilege topic to be with Derek, while he, on the other hand, must decide whether defending his honor in a criminal gang is worth risking his life.
Besides Stiles, other casts include Sean Patrick Thomas as Derek Reynolds, Kerry Washington as Chenille Reynolds, Fredro Starr as Malakai, Terry Kinney as Roy Thompson, Bianca Lawson as Nikki, Elizabeth Oas as Diggy, John Tierney as Art Vandelay, Vince Green as Snookie and Garland Whitt as Kenny.
Save The Last Dance takes pride in its several accolades, including a 'Best Kiss' win for Stiles and Thomas at the 2001 MTV Movie Awards and a Breakthrough Male Performance win for Thomas at the same ceremony. Stiles also won 'Choice Movie: Actress' at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards together with Washington, who scooped the 'Choice Movie: Breakout Star' title.
These are but a few of the movie’s numerous awards.