An Oversimplification of Her Beauty

Director Terence Nance can't be accused of playing safe with his debut feature. Expanding upon the 2010 short How Would You Feel? (which makes a guest appearance), he trudges through a variety of tasks while ruminating about his crush on best friend, muse and fellow film-maker Namik Minter. He wants to ask her a question, but keeps finding excuses for prevarication, as he knows the wrong answer could jeopardise their personal and professional relationship. Flitting between flashbacks, animated interludes, speeches to camera, digressions and doodles, Nance compiles what is essentially a cine-scrapbook of his encounters with and emotions for Minter, who isn't entirely sure how she feels about him. Those who don't often delve into the avant-garde and left-field film-making may struggle to warm to this atypical love story but there's no denying Nance has a distinctive voice.