De Encontro com o Amor

It is predictable, it has a lot of clichés, it doesn't aspire to be even nearer to what would be called a great film, or even a good one - or even a hit -, but its dialogues are fine and truthful, and reveal an experienced knowledge of a writer's craft and soul and suffering.

As the comment above put it, it's a film of real people with real problems, apparently common and minor problems to the viewer who expects to extract some titillation out of films - the characters here are not involved in intrigues, in hiding a murder or escape from it -, but problems hard enough for those involved. As we learn somewhere: there is no order of difficulty in problems, one is not "harder" or "bigger" than another. They are all the same.

The great psychologist Viktor Frankl, who spent four years in a concentration camp, tells in "Man's Search for Meaning", in an almost candid way, that his terrible sufferings there at the camp doesn't amount to anything bigger than anyone's. He makes a perfect analogy, and with the most frightening element an inmate of a concentration camp could think of: "A man's suffering is similar to the behaviour of gas. If a certain quantity of gas is pumped into an empty chamber, it will fill the chamber completely and evenly. Thus suffering completely fills the human soul and conscious mind, no matter whether the suffering is great or little. Therefore the 'size' of human suffering is absolutely relative".

Well, it seems a lot of thinking to draw from such an unpretentious film, but I think in that resides its merits. Keitel's outstanding performance adds a lot to it, it's on a level much higher than the whole production. It's amazing how great actors can have some of their great moments in lesser films, as Keitel here, or as Morgan Freeman unique, out-of-bounds performance in "Street Wise".

The 'Shadow Dancer' is a very defined and entertaining film. It delivered everything and met my very high expectations, after watching a box of delights flourish in an amazing backdrop of rural Italy. This film is such a light hearted treat it would be a crime if it did not get a worldwide release. The lead characters are awesome and the chemistry between them is a testament not only to their acting but Brad Mirman's script and direction of the movie.

A brilliant Harvey Keitel takes Joshua Jackson under his wing and the two deliver an entertaining insight into the world of writing with sublime performances. Then of course there is the beautiful Claire Forlani who adds sweetness and dexterity to a fabulous cast and story. I would like to see more films written and directed by Brad Mirman for here he has delivered a truly wonderful film that makes you feel alive and wanting to believe again. For this particular genre of film it is up there with the best. If you are a romantic and a dreamer then watch this film.

I see this movie at the festival at Cannes. I liked it very, very much. It is a very charming and moving story of love, loss and passion. It is funny, but also very emotional and it capture nicely the feeling of Tuscana.

Harvey Keitel plays very well the older writer and you can feel the pain in him for not being able to write. Joshua Jackson (who I am a great fan) is excellent as the young writer afraid to open his heart to writing and life. Claire Forlani is beautiful as the girl he falls in love with and Giancarlo Gianinni... well it is Giancarlo Gianinni a very great actor. I also like very much all the other little characters who live in the little village. They give very much credibility to the film, but the real story is with Keitel and Jackson and there journey together. It is here two men struggle to find the way to their dreams. 'Chi cerca trova'.

When you hear about a romantic comedy in which an editor visited a secluded ex-writer won't impress you. And when the first fifteen minutes of the movie show some stereotypical images of rural Italy, you might even pass on it. Exactly out of these overplayed scenes bordering with B-comedy The Shadows in the Sun started to develop.

Eventually, we remained within romantic comedy genre, yet it gets the maximum out of it. At first the characters seemed as if they came from a regular romantic novel, but this evened out to create a framework for some genuine emotion, despite occasional cheesy moments.

If Harvey Keitel was the expected heavyweight in the artistic crew, Claire Forlani was an unexpected surprise. She looked better than ever and mastered a perfect Italian accent.

We might argue what the purpose of cinema should be, but Shadows in the Sun was one of those movies that made me feel good without boring me or making me feel stupid. And this is a rare quality, in particular in romantic comedy.

It was very nice to see the brilliant but often vulgar Harvey Keitel in such a breath of fresh air in newer movies. The plot, while typically formulaic and cheerier than life, is very interesting and captivating. There are a few scenes which are of the PG-13 variety, and a few mandatory obscenities, but overall the movie is done with great down-to-earthiness and honesty, and makes you really want to watch the whole thing.

Claire Forlani and Joshua Jackson are both relatively little-known actors in my mind, but each gives a likable, cozy performance worthy of mention. In fact, I am looking at their respective movie histories here now in order to have a few more good picks in mind the next time I order my Blockbuster Online movies.

Overall a very heartwarming, mildly comical family movie that I hope propels its actors and other participants on to further glory. See it.