A Touch of Fate

TOUCH OF FATE is not one of the big Indie movies successes, nor is it a theatrical release that garnered wide audiences. Instead it is a quiet film about fate bonding people who are blindly searching for connection. Writer/director Rebecca Cook knows how to weave an intricate story into a canvas that is, well, luminous - and she does this without the usual hoopla of big name stars or expensive locations settings.

Coincidence or fate like a magnet draws the lives of three people into a bond created by a tragedy: a woman (Teri Hatcher) returns to her small North Carolina town in hopes of reclaiming a love (Daniel Green), an entertainment lawyer (Robert C. Treveiler) returns home out of guilt to his dying mother having attempted to escape his past for years, and a clairvoyant boy (Cody Newton) struggles with the sudden and tragic death of his father and overbearing love of his single mother. These individually needy people find succor in circumstances that hold lesson of coping with need, and finding forgiveness with the power of love.

Simple story, well written, and directed with control and care by Cook. Yet the genuine surprise of this film is the ensemble acting by a cast of fine actors. Teri Hatcher has a following for 'Desperate Housewives' but here she proves that she is truly a fine actress whose face communicates as much inner turmoil and emotion as the entire script. She is worth watching and the film deserves more attention. Grady Harp

I saw this movie while staying in a hotel in Singapore recently (although it was called 'A Touch of Fate') and I really enjoyed it. I don't usually write about films much, but there was a special 'something' in this film that made me want to write. To put it simply, Chester Story just has class written all over it.

The film brings the lives of two people together (one is Teri Hatcher) through a car accident. They both deal with the tragedy, and in the midst of all that's going on around them, find true love.

I guess what really captured me with this film is the style. It has a nice steady flow, as the lives of the characters are unraveled. The film was obviously filmed in North Carolina - where I grew up. It was a nice treat when travelling to somewhere such as Singapore to be able to see a film shot where you grew up! It really is beautifully shot!

The cast was great, Teri Hatcher is hot as always, and she shows more depth than I've never seen in her performances before.

When this film is available on DVD in the US I know I will buy it, and I urge all others to see it too. It's a great film to kick back and watch, for anyone. After all, we all have a heart. The Chester Story... a special story!

Good show. I am glad I stumbled across this gem. I had never seen Teri Hatcher in such a role. She displayed a blend of vulnerability with a sense of adventure and dealing with the cards she was dealt. Teri was the main reason I initially tuned in, but all of the other characters ,large and small, were quite good. The beauty of the locale added to the irony of life in flux in spring-time. Death came in two instances, one expected, the other not. The story rang true and was without contrivance. I especially liked the use of humor ,i.e. the unexpected(and inexplicable)nocturnal woodpecker scene. The rather happy ending seemed natural, not forced. I would have liked to have seen the young bully dealt with, but that is the only quibble. I want to see more from this director. -sdg

I'm inclined to agree with Simon Macca's view of this film, which I saw on Sky Movies. The scenery on display is quite beautiful and relaxing to watch, the greenery and wide, calm waterways not unlike parts of the UK where I live. The script is paced accordingly but never boring, as each of the characters has a strong personality and holds the attention during the development of the bond between them. Those familiar with Teri Hatcher's versatile talents in past work are in for a pleasant surprise as she becomes Megan. Her acting is superb and she has a quiet chemistry with Rob Treveiler which is very natural, involving a few fun scenes in spite of the overall dramatic theme. There is strong support from the rest of the cast and this is one movie I can thoroughly recommend to everyone, young and old.