Dancing at the Blue Iguana
Dancing at the Blue Iguana is a 2000 American erotic drama film, directed by Michael Radford, about the lives of strippers at a strip club in Los Angeles, California's San Fernando Valley. The film was based on an improvisational workshop involving the lead actors. It explores the intersecting lives of five exotic dancers who work at the Blue Iguana and the difficulties in their lives. The film was released on September 14, 2000, at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Plot
Angel 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 is pregnant, wants an abortion, and can barely contain her rage at the world, which is useful in her moonlighting as a dominatrix. Jasmine writes beautiful poetry on the side and finally finds a boyfriend. She reveals to him that she is a stripper, and he maintains that he can accept that. However, once he sees her dance at the club, he disapproves silently and leaves. Jesse is the youngest and newest stripper who looks for acceptance and love among the strippers and customers. She is eventually beaten by her boyfriend which leads her to alcohol abuse and depression. Stormy is having an incestuous relationship with her brother.
In 2001, Daryl Hannah released a one-hour companion documentary, Strip Notes, based on her experience researching her role as a stripper in the film. It is included on the Dancing at the Blue Iguana DVD. It features all of the lead actresses in the film as well as Elias Koteas.
Production
To prepare for her role, Daryl Hannah spent every night for a month at the Crazy Girls strip club on seedy Sunset Strip learning the stripping art.
Reception
Notable positive reviews included critics Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper who gave it two thumbs up, complimenting Oh and Hannah on Ebert and Roeper. Likewise, critic Kevin Thomas gave a positive review in the Los Angeles Times, and Stephen Holden wrote a somewhat positive review in The New York Times.