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Streaming January 10-23, 2025 Digital Screening Room

USA | 86 minutes | 2024

A Gathering of Strangers

Southeast US Premiere

In A Gathering of Strangers, director Karin Coonrod embarks on a riveting journey that intertwines art, history, and contemporary issues. This thought-provoking documentary begins with Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, set in Venice, a city the playwright never visited. Fast forward to 2015, and the film delves into the high-stakes final auditions for a bold production staged in the Venetian ghetto, where the complexities of language and identity come alive.

The film features powerful performances from Paul Spera, grandson of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Linda Powell, daughter of General Colin Powell, alongside the late Reg E. Cathey of House of Cards. As the ensemble, drawn from New York, London, and Rome, assembles under Coonrod’s direction, the documentary captures the nuanced exploration of Shakespeare’s work amidst rising anti-Semitism and threats to justice.

Through visits from influential figures like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, A Gathering of Strangers reveals the intricate interplay of art and societal challenges. It examines the persistent relevance of Shakespeare’s themes of mercy and justice, magnified by the historic and modern-day tensions in Venice’s Jewish ghetto.

Accompanying the film premiere is a discussion with director Ted Hardin, producer Elizabeth Coffman, and film subject Karin Coonrod. To view the conversation please click here.

Director's Bio

Directed by Ted Hardin

Director Photo
Ted Hardin is a filmmaker known for his work on environmental and cultural documentaries. He co-directed Veins in the Gulf, which explores the environmental and human impact of coastal erosion in Louisiana. He is also a professor of film and video at Columbia College Chicago, where he teaches courses on documentary filmmaking and media production.

Cast and Credits

Director

Ted Hardin

Screenwriter

Ted Hardin

Cinematographer

Ted Hardin

Editor

Ted Hardin

Cast

Karin Coonrod, Shaul Bassi, Carol Rutter

Film Info

Year

2024

Country

USA

Run-time

86 minutes

Language

English
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