Chasing Shakespeare

I fell in love with "Chasing Shakespeare" more than once during the 2013 Big Island Film Festival at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai'i. Director Norry Niven flew in from Cannes where he'd just won an AFI Award, and added to it BIFF's Best Feature and Audience Choice.

It's an interracial love story of Venus and William, a Native American woman of the lightning clan and an African American man destined to run his father's farm. But to stop there would be a disservice.

The film tells of many kinds of love - love of family, of tradition and culture, of Shakespeare and horses and laughter, as well as romantic love between the two. It crosses boundaries of time and race, even spirit.

At times it speaks in symbols we call "ho'ailona" in Hawai'i - natural phenomenon that communicate to us in very special moments - a sudden gust of wind, a butterfly that lands on your hand. Venus' affinity with the lightning, which charges important points through the story, is a great example.

One night after an outdoor screening of CS, I was driving home to a breathtaking lightning display over the mountain. I had to email Norry right away, and he said something to the effect, that it happens pretty often. I would love to know if other viewers experience something similar!

This is a brilliant love story from the incredible Director, Norry Niven. Norry and team picked a perfect cast and this storyline and the acting are first rate.

This is a love story told in a flash back style going back over 50 years. At times it is full of joy, love and at times very sad. This one had me weeping throughout the movie.

If all movies were this interesting with such wonderful content and such amazing directing, the film world would be a much more enjoyable place.

This is one of those movies the whole family will enjoy so don't wait, go see this now!

Awful, painful acting with a pathetic storyline. Watched this during a storm on a cruise and would have rather sat in the storm.

"From Above" is a lovely story with Danny Glover in a very moving role. The movie goes back and forth between the present and the past, focusing on a particular family's background and culture while exploring universal themes. There is humor and witty dialogue, with a wonderful performance by Graham Greene as a wise mentor. The story is engaging -- never boring. I wanted to keep seeing what would unfold.

I saw this film in a theater and, at the end, there were very few dry eyes. The director really knows how to pack a truthful emotional punch.

The young actors, although unknown to me, were wonderful. The scenery and authentic costumes were amazing.

This is a film that should be seen. It has won many festival awards, which is a testament to its quality and power.

This movie is very romantic and beautifully filmed. Adriana Mather is stunning as Betty. I wish we could see her in an expanded role. James Bird is an exceptional screen writer. Norry Niven did an excellent job with the directing and production. This is also true of Anya Remizova. Danny Glover is talented, as usual. Tantoo Cardinal is beautiful. Overall, this is a heart-wrenching love story that has it all. It exposes the state of race relations in this country without actually focusing too strongly on this. It exposes the cultural 'myth' of meritocracy. It is up-lifting and leaves the viewer with hope for the future. This movie compares to "The Notebook" in terms of its general mood. The inclusion of Shakespeare lends an air of sophistication to the film.