Shouting Secrets

It takes a certain degree of craftsmanship in the storytelling to get me rooting for the wife-cheating pedophile at the end of a movie.

It takes a great deal of suspension of disbelief for me to get past the continuity pain of the plot driving conveyance of a women on life support fighting for her life in the hospital who, visually, is obviously not on life support...and still keep me dialed in enough to see the film through to the end because I am vested in seeing how things end up. Director Korinna Sehringer's latest film manages to do both.

Shouting Secrets carries the ghost track of "John Wayne's Teeth" dancing beneath it's storyline, its winding plot takes us on a journey across the breath of reservation life that one doesn't often get access to.

The official word is that Wesley, a young, successful novelist, long ago left Arizona and the San Carlos Apache Reservation in his rear view mirror. He remains close to his mother but alienated the rest of the family with his autobiographical bestseller.

He has no intention of returning for his parents anniversary party but finds himself pulled back into the fold. Coming home only underlines what a mess Wesley's life has become, but he's not alone in that. Shouting Secrets tells a present day story about a Native-American family with unique struggles but universal truths.

Sehringer put on her casting director hat to collect a family of high profile Native American actors for her film: Lakota Chaske Spencer and Gil Birmingham have been swooning hearts around the world in Twilight; Quechua-Huachipaeri Q'orianka Kilcher starred as Pocahontas at the age of 14 (Great Land Alert: rumor has it that Q'orianka's mother is a Swiss national who grew up in Alaska); General Hospital heart throb Tyler Christopher makes a show; heart-stopplingly-beautiful Wind-in-his-Hair Rodney A. Grant and Black Shawl Tantoo Cardinal cross time from Dances with Wolves; joined by Tongva-Kumeyaay Tonantzin Carmelo whom we recall as Into the West's Thunder Heart Woman.

Shouting Secrets has been bringing home the hardware with seven wins and three nominations in the last year, including Best Film at the American Indian Film Festival, Best of the Fest at the Arizona International Film Festival, Golden Honu award at the Big Island Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Breckenridge Festival of Film and the Grand Prize at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

I found this film authentic, meaningful, heartfelt and relatable.

Last year I was an honoree and a teacher at the Big Island Film Festival. I am a story/career consultant for writers. I went to see a majority of the films while I was there. There was a major buzz going around the festival about "Shouting Secrets" even before it played. I went to see it. I've worked in the entertainment business for over 20 years. I can honestly say that I think this movie made me feel more than any movie that I've seen in years. I laughed and I cried. I connected with the story on every level. The audience laughed and cried. It was such a pleasurable experience to see a film of this caliber at a festival. I think we all knew that there was something special going on with this film. It is one that I will never forget. For me, I think that "Shouting Secrets" parallels with "The Descendents" on many levels conceptually. However, for me, it is a stronger film. I understood and rooted for the journey much more. I was connected to the outcome. I LOVE this movie!

First let me say I loved this film!

Director Korinna Sehringer tells the story with grace, compassion, and humor. For a first-time director, she knocks it out of the park. This wonderful glimpse inside Native American culture is a breath of fresh air and adds poignant nuance to a film that sets it apart from the pack. The acting is effortless by many in the cast. The story is enhanced by the beautiful landscapes of Arizona, making nearly every frame a visual treat. I left the theater with a humbled sense of compassion for my own family, which is not easy to do! Director Korinna Sehringer has a very bright future ahead of hear. I look forward to seeing her next picture.

A must see!! Made me cry several times which is a good indicator that it is a great movie. The only downfall to this movie is it is not on DVD/blu-ray, which I prefer. Rent it or buy it on Amazon Prime it is well worth it!!

Shouting Secrets has all of the ingredients that makes for a great movie . . . it makes you laugh, it makes you cry and, most of all, it has characters that everyone can identify with in their lives. The acting in this film is award-winning and the cinematography is beautiful. The film has won multiple awards in the many film festivals for which it has been selected, often times becoming the Audience Favorite award-winner. The story is one that shows a family facing struggles - many of which we have all gone through ourselves. The use of Native American people also gives a unique blend of old traditions with new. A must-see film.