Elena Undone (2010) A Nicole Conn Film Review
Dir. Nicole Conn | Writer: Nicole Conn | Starring: Necar Zadegan, T-Bird Dinwiddie, Gary Weeks, Sam Harris, Mary Jane Wells, Connor Kramme, Sabrina Fuster
“Fate brings two diversely different women together, and sets them on a collision course that will shatter their preconceived notions about love, life and the power of one’s soul.”
Perhaps considered the Lesbian Cinematic Masterpiece, Elena Undone is simply put; a story of true love. Can it be as simple as that though? It can be, I could also sit here and tell you how it’s really a masterful representation of that undeniable, invisible thread that pulls at the very middle of you, the one that spurs you onward to the people and the things that call to you without words. Some people call it fate. Some people call it magic. Some people call it “Soulemetry”. But for starters, let’s just call it true love.
It is no secret that I am a nerd for technique. Good storytelling is something that will leave you amazed and full-of-heart for the moment. Great storytelling however, is a wide-eyed, astonished feeling that leaves the heart full in a way that lasts. It is my opinion that Elena Undone is great storytelling by its technique, its writing, its editing and the performances that lie within.
Some of the genius of Elena Undone is its semi-narration by a genuinely earnest and pure of heart character named Tyler who is, in reality, filming a sort of documentary about what he has chosen to affectionately call “Soulemetry” or, the meeting of Twin Flames despite all odds and circumstance. Often referred to as the “love guru”, Tyler (portrayed by Sam Harris) speaks to the camera as if breaking the fourth wall throughout the film, but it’s not until later that viewers may realize that he is, actually, speaking indirectly with the audience and guiding them along the path of Elena and Peyton’s meeting, falling, angst and blissful epilogue.
“This person may come in an unusual package, not your typical type.”
The film’s titular character Elena (played by Necar Zadegan), at first glance, emanates a stagnant, almost bored and uninterested spirit while the story whisks viewers along her day-to-day. Married to a bland, fundamentalist Christian man who also happens to be a pastor, living in a stifling church community- but has what seems to be her one reprieve in life, her friend Tyler. It’s through Tyler that Elena runs into Peyton (T-Bird Dinwiddie) a second time. They first encounter each other, by chance, at an adoption agency of all places. They are both there for reasons of their own, but couldn’t be further apart in circumstance.
Elena’s strict and traditional upbringing paired with her pastor for a husband, and somehow eventual falling-in-love with an “out” lesbian who is a recovering agoraphobic writer is something that you just need to watch happen.
Peyton and Elena soon begin to spend more of their days together as well as time spent talking on the phone, no doubt learning more and more about each other with every passing minute.
“Women are so complex and so multidimensional, I just want to dig in. I want to show all their colors.”
Further into the story it’s discovered that Peyton has struggled to overcome her agoraphobia, and has written the literal “book on it”. When watching Elena Undone for the first time, I clocked Peyton’s obsessive looping right away in a scene where she’s sat at her dining table, unable to eat a single bite for moving her cutlery, cleaning them compulsively and arranging items of food on her plate. As someone who lives with diagnosed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I recognized this anxiety-laden behavior and can relate to Peyton on a deeper level in this way. Agoraphobia and OCD share a lot of the same anxieties and the same compulsive push and pull; the intrusive thoughts that can overwhelm and completely and mentally destabilize a person. These disorders can feel very much like a living inside of a hostage negotiation and T-Bird’s performance rings true by the exasperations in her voice and body language throughout the scene.
Later Elena ends up offering Peyton a photography session for a new author’s photo. Necar really drives it home in her portrayal of nervous, fumbling, curious photographer who is rapidly growing closer and closer to one of the most unlikely women she could ever meet (and fall hard for).
The conflict in the film can be described as both internal and external. Peyton, knowing full well the ramifications of falling for a straight married woman and Elena, having to contend with her husband’s religious faith and his unabashedly hateful anti-LGBT congregation.
But the heart wants what the heart wants. Or “the heart knows what the heart knows”.
“Please, don’t take you away from me.”
Now Tyler, the enthusiastic narrator-by-proxy a.k.a. “Soulemetry Documentarian” references the term “Twin Flames” often in the film, and the ensuing story is just that; the journey two souls take to end up belonging with one another. They can travel thousands of miles, uproot from opposite ends of the earth, each with different backgrounds that are a stark contrast to the other, and still no matter the circumstance can end up finding their way to each other eventually.
As if you needed the additional motivation to seek out this epic love story (pay attention to the bottom of the article for links on where to watch) I have two remaining thoughts to impart to you:
Firstly, this film in particular holds the record for the longest kissing scene in cinematic history. Not just in sapphic film, in all film, and it is a glorious three minutes and twenty-four seconds shared between Necar and T-Bird in a scene that has not yet met its match in the film industry in almost 13 years. Just a fun fact that I am never not willing to tell anyone with a set of eyes or ears.
Second, Elena Undone makes consent sexy. The intimacy that takes place between Elena and Peyton transcends everything Elena thought she knew about love making, having only one standard with her husband of fifteen years. This film sets the bar high for verbal consent in love scenes. Great writing.
With all of that in mind, settle in for this heartwarming (and erotic) tale of two diversely different women who fall madly in love with each other despite all signs to caution or depart from one another. This intimate portrayal of true love sits at the top of my list of “pick me ups with a happy ending” and forever will be a monumental part of my sapphic movie watching experience.
More Beautiful for Having Been Broken (2019)
After a death in the family, FBI Agent McKenzie De Ridder (portrayed fabulously by the steely-gazed Zoë Ventoura) finds herself on mandatory leave from the Bureau and headed towards a distant memory somewhere near what’s called “Lake Mervielle”.
She soon meets young Freddie, played by Cale Ferrin and the two begin to bond over the first half of the film (much to McKenzie’s chagrin, whom Freddie also refers to affectionately as “Macks”) […]
This article was written by:
S.C. Peregrine (she/her)
Writer, Producer, Set/Event Photographer
Sarah Caitlin is a strong advocate for positive LGBTQIA representation in film & television. Known by friends and colleagues as "S.C.", she travels the country (and sometimes out of it) providing press and media coverage for film premieres, film festivals, fan conventions and still photography for film & tv sets. She is also currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Media Communications at The Los Angeles Film School with a 3.9 GPA.
Follow on Instagram:
Other socials:
Show your support for this incredible new Lesbian web series called As Love Goes before the crowdfunding campaign ends on November 10!
Limited time offer: Fleet of Fandoms has partnered with DivaBoxOffice.tv for the remainder of the crowdfunding effort on behalf of As Love Goes, to offer you your first month on a subscription to the newest LGBTQIA streaming service for FREE when you make a donation, click here to learn more!
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter! Get a periodic email with all of the latest Fleet of Fandoms articles, reviews, discount codes on queer-owned small businesses and more. Unsubscribe at any time.