By: Patricia Trutescu

The film produced and directed by Nadine Patterson, along with her mother, Marlene Patterson, Tango Macbeth, is an official selection of the 2012 Roxbury International Film Festival at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival. The blog on www.indiewire.com called, “Shadow and Act” describes the work as a play, inside a documentary, inside a film.

The synopsis of Tango Macbeth reads: “A theater company rehearses Macbeth. A documentary film crew follows them during the rehearsal process. Occasionally the actors become lost in Shakespeare’s world. This intense drama, dance and humor is a refreshing take on Shakespeare’s classic text.”

While most individuals are familiar with the story of Macbeth, “Shadow and Act” asks, “what is the connection with the other word in the film’s title, “Tango?” The filmmaker says:

“The idea of a tango, a dance with multiple partners, involves a couple that has its own intensity and power dynamics. The word “tango” comes from the Congo in Central Africa, which means drum circle. We use the word tango in this literal sense. The audience is invited into a space to experience and share. The music is very percussive, keeping in line with the traditional African drum music used in tango circles.”

Tango Macbeth stars Alexandra Bailey, Brian Anthony Wilson, Justin Bryant, Veronica Wathome, and James Tolbert. Original music was created by Lenny Seidman and Choreography is by Zane Booker.

What is more impressive is the time in which Tango Macbeth was shot – 11 days in July. The multi-ethnic cast and crew all live in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

View the trailer below: