Elena Undone

I was disappointed and frustrated to see that the only review of this film so far was by a woman who had the nerve to dish on a film that she walked out of after only the first 40 minutes. Seems to me that that should automatically disqualify her review and critique on that grounds alone.

My partner and I, on the other hand, stayed for the entire film, and would have quite happily stayed for a second showing if they'd decided to have one. We agreed that it was the best lesbian film that we've ever seen (and we've seen most of them that are out there).

When the reality is that most (though thankfully not all) lesbian films are mediocre at best, and embarrassingly bad at worst, "Elena Undone" sets a new standard for what lesbian films can and should be: intelligently written, well-cast and well-acted and well-directed, with natural and believable dialogue, a storyline that is actually believable, and characters that you can relate to (and may even want to be friends with), and extremely erotic scenes that still manage to be tasteful and believable. It is rare to find all of these qualities in a mainstream blockbuster feature film, and nearly impossible to find them in lesbian movies, so I was thrilled almost beyond reason to see what can be accomplished in lesbian film-making.

And then there's the astounding beauty of the two co-stars and the incredible and believable passion and eroticism of the connection that builds between them as the movie evolves. To say that this was a satisfying element of the movie would be a serious understatement... I have never been so aroused by a film, and couldn't stop thinking about it for the entire week since I've seen it. I have watched the trailer at least once a day since and am totally hooked! I am not embarrassed to admit that I have fallen hopelessly in love with this exquisite film.

I encourage every woman-loving-woman out there (and our friends and allies) to do whatever it takes to SEE THIS FILM, even if it means buying it sight-unseen (yeah, it's THAT good!) We need to create a market for more high quality lesbian films like this, and the only way to do so is to provide support to the talented filmmakers who gift us with delicious movies like this one. SEE IT -- YOU WON'T REGRET IT! Kathy Berkeley, CA

I did not like the presentation of the husband. He just didn't work as a conservative pastor or as a man. That said I thought that every other thing resonated with truth.

One aspect of love and affairs that rarely gets attention is the feelings of the third party. Peyton in this film gets to have the range of emotion, loving the individual , not knowing where exactly they fit in, not knowing when or if they will get to share their love in the open. It tears at the soul, it sows doubt and Nicole Conn gives us an inspection of that part of love, that pain. We also get the pain and doubt and confusion of the person who wasn't looking for love, but found it none the less.

It is a thoughtful film, it is a romantic film. It has some of the most sensuous love scenes that I can recall and yet nothing explicit enough to actually offend any but those who are predisposed to offence. You could watch this with your adult children and not be embarrassed.

This movie is one everyone should see. The truth is that people fall in love; it can be messy; people may get hurt. The more complex reality is that we can really "sleep half our lives away" and wake to find our life is not what we believed it to be. We can have the best intentions; make the most detailed plan for our lives and wake to find nothing is the same.

Two women of good intention-adoption for God's sake- find themselves involved in an escalating romance. It doesn't matter what you think about gay, lesbian or even broken marriage vows, it happens.

And, the simple truth is no one talks about how a woman's world is split open by discovering that she can be sexually and romantically involved with another woman when that has never seemed "imaginable to her." No one talks about the collateral damage a woman will do on both sides of the equation because she has been conditioned to compromise, to "work it out."

So, Elena Undone talks about it; shows it; let's you live it for just a little while. Long kisses, glorious love-making, mine-field maneuvering in the land of disintegrating marriage; heart breaking choices in the pool of self-protection; and the simple notion that once the wreckage has been sorted, if it's true love, there is hope. That's all any of us want to believe, really. There is hope. AM I a romantic? Sure. I am living proof that the wreckage doesn't have to bury the flame. Twenty five years after meeting; with an 11 year separation, my soul mate and I just marked 13 years in June.

Go see the movie. Leave all your baggage at home. It's a movie. It tells a story and it makes you feel good; not bad...good!

Last night at the Philly Qfest, the director of this film blamed her lesbian audience for why her film was low-budget (she says it's because "lesbians don't go to the movies...").

Low-budget doesn't explain why the narrative rhythm of her feature film was reminiscent of a deaf, dumb, and blind elementary school's band who's music teacher is conducting over the web. No pace. No rhythm. The first 30 minutes was the worst. Needs to be re-edited!!! Eventually, the film did improve significantly, and at times, was very funny. The acting was good and I appreciated the casting.

However, overall,the story itself reeked of self-indulgence and attempted to cater too much to the real life back story of its filmmakers at the expense of developing an authentic narrative that could breathe on its own. So much of this film simply needed to be re-edited. The psychic guru guy... I understand his character and finally got around to liking him but he needs a completely revised introduction into the script. It simply doesn't work.

One thing I didn't understand was the wardrobe of the lesbian protagonist's character. The story seemed to be set in 2010 but her wardrobe was very 1990's. The actor didn't look comfortable in those clothes. Again, was this artistic detail (e.g. wardrobe) catering to the integrity of the autobiographical story over the authenticity of its recreation?

Oh, and about that long kiss....it was long. Too long. Sadly, it looked too staged and indulgent to the filmmakers rather than seeming authentic to the actual characters. It's nice when art has the potential to imitate life but it has to happen naturally. It can't just happen for it's own sake.

Lastly, a low-budget breeds creativity. I liked what was done with inserting the "real life" stories of heterosexual lovers. It was a nice touch which has been successfully executed in other films but in this film, it didn't fit in seamlessly. I've never seen such careless editing and loose story structure with all the flashbacks, and side stories, and voice-overs. More time was needed to tighten up this film. The acting itself would make it worth seeing again if it was re-edited.

Elena Undone is one of the best indie and also lesbian movies i've seen in a long time. the acting by both main actresses was compelling. they had a lot of chemistry even without the love scenes. the other actors did a very good job as well. i'll mention Mary Wells as one of the best and Sabrina Fuster as a newcomer was surprisingly at ease in front of the camera. as for the story it was romantic but also had moments of tension and heartbreak. Nicole Conn, the director and writer was very good at getting all there was to get out of each actor, especially Traci and Necar. i could almost feel what each was going through in the very intense moments. there was also a lot of chemistry though not romantic between Traci and Mary. they really seemed like true friends. over all i'd say this movie should attract many people, more than just the lesbian population. it is first and foremost a love story.