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!

Or as they call it in Germany: A timeless love story. It could also be called: Love from another place (dimension) or anything similar that will tell you that this is very sown into the native American culture and into believes. Whether that strikes you as odd or as unbelievable will determine how much you like this.

You have to suspend disbelief at least a little bit and Danny Glover sells it as good as he can. Sometimes even he struggles with some of the dialog or display of emotion. But if you buy completely into it and its mythical treating of certain things you won't mind that. I'm just here to remind you, that this might go sideways really fast if at any point you start doubting ... Better believe it ... pun very much intended

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.

"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.

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