Shades of Day (2006) Reviews

• A struggling young writer rescues a woman who in turn leads him on a life-changing personal journey.

  danny00662005-11-03

  Highly entertaining and deeply affecting, this film is full of surprises. It's a noir wrapped in a fable. It has a magical quality, but the magic derives from its extraordinary characters rather than supernatural forces. And while it's character driven, "Shades of Day" manages to achieve an almost epic quality. This directorial legerdemain can be attributed to both the richness and variety of the film's iconic Los Angeles locations and to the magnitude of its themes----sex, love, betrayal, greed, and death. But director Sumin never forgets that the cinematic seeker of truth must also be an entertainer; he juggles his seemingly weighty themes with a circus-like sense of fun and adventure. The film is beautifully shot and edited from a script by Sumin and playwright Jeff Bergquist. The title appears to be a canny reversal of "White Nights," one of Dostoevsky's finest stories. This is a case of a film being "inspired by..." in the best sense of the word. Sumin projects his understanding of Dostoevsky's story through the kaleidoscope of his own considerable imagination. At the film's center is the astonishing performance of Camilla Bergstrom. With her portrayal of the many-faceted Linda, she demonstrates a dramatic principle that's rarely embodied in romantic films these days---namely, that in order for a love story to truly move an audience, the audience itself must be made to fall in love... This is a fascinating film, not to be missed.

• Masterpiece!

  mhachi2016-12-02

  First of all, the casting in the film was exceptional. It wouldn't be the same without the talented casts! Prior to watching the Shades of Day, I read the novel White Nights on which this film was based. I was amazed how this film is uniquely, creatively transferred to modern Hollywood. What I loved about the film is that it is not only love story, mystery and crime but also a human drama. I even found it a little spiritual and I was drawn into the Mr. Sumin's world. How he portrays all aspects of the emotions: sadness, happiness, joy, anger, disgust, desire, despair, fear, pain, love etc was incredible. What moved me most was the chemistry of Linda and Gary. That was beautiful! I was struck deeply by the final scene with a great final message: "Steven: Is it too little for the whole of my life? Gary: I think you have a good point, son." I usually like happy endings and I was wishing Linda would come back to Steven, but after watching I could say it was a perfect ending that made me 'feel good' eventually, knowing Steven's wounded heart would heal. I highly recommend this film to everyone who are looking for something original, creative, beautiful and touching.

• Great Art House Film

  MimifromEurope2016-07-09

  I've recently watched "Shades of Day" at a private screening and can recommend it to all cineasts out there, especially fans of the film noir genre. This film has style and elegance, and the performance of fresh and talented actors, in particular leading actress Camilla Bergstrom, will certainly stick in your memory. Dostoevsky's novella "White Nights", on which this film is based, is transferred to today's Los Angeles in the most interesting and appealing way. Thus, the film gives a deep insight into human nature, it tells about the trials and tribulations of relationships, of friendship and -- Hollywood, maybe also about the modern business world in general. I'm curious to see the other parts of the Dostoevsky-L.A. project!

• Impressive!

  micapalcica2015-05-07

  I was lucky enough to be invited to a private screening of this amazing film. What a treat it was. If you are into noir and extraordinary characters then this is the film for you. This movie has it all: love story, action, sex, death, all wrapped up in a fable which makes you wonder what's real and what isn't. I think that the strongest point of this film are the characters, especially Linda, performed brilliantly by Camilla Bergstrom. This story is based on "White Nights," one of Dostoevsky's finest stories, but the directors interpretation of it would make Dostoevsky very proud. I wish there were more films like this one in cinemas or on Netflix and other platforms.

• Original, creative and exceptional movie

  kasia0002015-05-01

  I have seen "Shades of day" in the private screening and the very first word that comes to my mind when I think about this film is Exceptional. This movie has everything: love story, murderer, action, even… ghosts. ;) And everything in it is shown in a really original and creative way, that makes you wonder and gives a different perspective. I think its strongest point are the characters, even after the end of the movie you don't forget them, but keep thinking about them. I've watched the movie more than once and, what was surprising to me, every time I watched it, I discovered something new about each person. Especially Linda - I hated her at first, but later, well, I started to understand her behavior and motives too. And "talking to the soul of the Universe" motive - I simply love it. :) I wish I could watch more films like this one in cinemas in my country. IMO "Shades of Day" restores faith in good, intelligent cinematography, so you must see it!