Chasing Red

Using both new and historical footage Chasing Red introduces viewers to the ritual running of the bulls that happens multiple times each year during the Fiesta de San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain. It follows experienced runners and a newbie just learning the running ropes, under the mentoring wing of the filmmaker, learning the best places to stand, how to run, and strategies for when things go badly wrong.

Running the full emotional gamut, this doc had me on the edge of my seat - it was entertaining, exciting, and also scared the crap out of me! Don't think I ever want to ever go watch a running with the bulls in person after some of the scenes here, but won't ever forget - once seen you can't unsee it!

Unlike anything ever done before, and with unparalleled access, Chasing Red provides an exciting and wholly accurate film on the Pamplona running of the bulls. Next best thing to actually going to Spain. High quality filmmaking skills abound with frightening and intense sequences of real runners in the streets. Cannot wait to see it again! The thing that most people do not know about is the daily grind to run every morning and get through to the end. Dennis and his compatriots explain this better than anything that I've ever seen. Four very likable running characters make you wish for their safety and happiness, and the joy they find running leaps off the screen. Just an inspirational success by Dennis, especially as a first time filmmaker.

What I loved most about this piece of work is that it captures the true essence of why people run in the first place. I think most people think that the runners just do it to be macho or to show off. That is so far from the truth and this film captures it. Everyone has their own reason to be there and yet they are all linked by this same 2 and a half minutes of time. Excellent job and I will certainly recommend to anyone who is considering the run or even just wants to understand it. It honestly makes me proud to be in that brotherhood of men and women that have run before me. If you are considering the run, please take time out to give this a watch.

This film was an up close and personal view of running with the bulls in Spain. The filming was amazing! The film highlighted for men who run with the bulls. You realize how spiritual it is to run with the bulls and you learn about each of the four men personally. I took my ten year old daughter and seven son to see it. Both my kids enjoyed the movie and my ten year old is not determined to go to Spain to run with the bulls. There was very very very brief nudity in the beginning of the film. But it was true to the movie and not disturbing at all. Also, this film shows all aspects of the festival the good, the bad and the ugly. The movie is non-stop gripping and when the credits rolled at the end, I didn't want to leave my seat - I wanted more.

As a first time director, Dennis does a nice job of letting us be a fly on the wall as a few of his friends (and himself) take on the festivities and the culture of the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Through his film, we get to understand why some people include this activity in their lives. His subjects include Americans and a Spaniard, so we get less of a Western view, but more of a human view. I also how Dennis touched on the bullfighting aspect of the festival without passing judgement, leaving those tricky emotions to the audience.

The filmmaking is nice, while not being too obtrusive or artistic. Editing is tight, the film flies by (as it should).

Recommend.