Kissed by Lightning is multi-dimensional and multi-layered; it’s a love story, but certainly much more than just a love story. It is infused with history and tradition. As the story is told, Mavis Dogblood is a Mohawk painter. She has been living in a world of memories and grief. Her husband Jessie Lightning vanished before her eyes in a thunder-storm. This has left her lost and absent from the world. She has just started to paint again. She paints stories of the Iroquois Peacemaker, stories Jessie used to tell her. Not only to help pay the bills now but to keep his memory of him close to her.

The new man in her life, Bug, patiently waits for her to resolve her emotional struggle. To complicate the scene, Jessie’s first family, ex-wife Kateri and 12 year old son Zeus have moved into their house next door. On the way to New York City to exhibit her paintings, Mavis stops to finally meet Jessie’s grandmother Josephine, here she finds peace of mind and peace of heart.

The legend of Peacemaker and Hiawatha dates back to the 14th century, is a history of the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and the Mohawk Nations. Traditionally this story takes ten days to tell. It is a story told by Niro that blends this legend into modern day living.

Shelley Niro is a celebrated Mohawk filmmaker and visual artist. A member of the Turtle Clan, Bay of Quinte Mohawk from the Six Nations Reserve. With many accolades to her name, this is her first feature film and is based on a screenplay written by Niro. Kissed by Lightning stars Kateri Walker (Missionary Man, Blueberry, The Scarlet Letter), Eric Scheweig (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, One Dead Indian), Rachelle White Wind (XIII) & Michael Greyeyes (Passchendaele) and was filmed on location in the Hamilton Region Conservation Centres in Ontario, Canada.