Mr. Shakespeare Wins: Visually Striking Cinematic Poem

Dear Mr. Shakespeare Wins as a Visually Striking Cinematic Poem
By Joseph Reilly

Shola Amoo's 2016 film Dear Mr. Shakespeare takes a monologue poem referencing Shakespeare's Othello and matches it against thought provoking scenes.

Dear Mr. Shakespeare is sure to leave viewers talking as the spoken word film taking racial concepts from Othello raises historical questions on race relations, Shakespeare's owns views, and puts a different twist on the classic story. The film is just as discomforting as it is moving, posing the question of whether Shakespeare himself was racist. The in - depth journey that the film takes is a commentary on racism over time, biases, and more. Threaded throughout to assist this all is a cinematic array of various camera shots that define Dear Mr. Shakespeare as a poem combined with a painting to produce a film; which is what makes it unique.

The twist on Othello and the film's overall modern day spin feels fresh, as something so artistically driven in the format of Dear Mr. Shakespeare has yet to be done. There's a newness that comes along with watching the film, an exclusivity that can make the viewer feel as though they're watching something truly revolutionary. This aspect
alone could make one wish the film just a little bit longer, but given its fast paced nature and quality of content, it gets a pass on that. The film brings one in and introduces them to history and then changes the game, creating a sense of unpredictability along with its freshness. Dear Mr. Shakespeare gets this all right.

For viewers who are timid around social commentary that borders the lines of controversy, this film will be uncomfortable. The speaker is clear in her thesis, she is unapologetic and ready for debate. This can come off as confrontational to some. Justified in her speech and righteous in her words, one will surely not question the art at hand, but this discomfort can be the film's downfall to some, as the heavy narrative may not suite all tastes. But just as the film can be translated as being uncomfortable for some, that can be a good thing, as tension is the main ingredient for any great story. Discomfort can leave viewers in heightened suspense, invoking the most natural of emotions when watching this film in its entirety, and that's certainly not a bad thing.

Dear Mr. Shakespeare does a great job with asking the hard questions, and inducing hard thought. Was Shakespeare racist at all? What does Othello say about humanity over time and their nature to see different as a threat? The film will surely make one think about these issues all while being taken on a journey through time via spoken word. It's not a easy feat fitting in all these components into a short film, but that's exactly what happens here.

Topping off all the well written narratives and hard pressed questions that Dear Mr.
Shakespeare gives its viewers, is the cinematography which threads it all together. Clipped together with close-up face shorts, angles that pan around the speaker, and scenes with characters that stand motionless like a reality based painting, the eyes will be astonished at the level of creativity that spurs behind the lens. This is where the magic of the film makes itself known, detaining the eye's attention span with subtle special effects and editing that leaves you needing to watch again just to take it all in properly. It's the icing on the well-made cake, and the painting to fancy up the room. If not for one's taste for Shakespeare, the camera work is reason enough to
watch.

Dear Mr. Shakespeare is a must see, even if cultural narratives aren't the theme of choice. This isn't a film, it's an experience, and one that shouldn't be missed. https://vimeo.com/183218909