First of all the "good" news: Everybody who loves "religiousness" as such will love this movie. Because it not only comes along as just another mere homosexual propaganda film, obviously in intention and attempt to make this kind of "non-straight" relationships socially acceptable. The second pseudo-religious effort of this film lies in immensely contributing to the at least also 2000 years old other myth of "the soul-mate" thing. For this purpose a non-gay guy is displayed who seems to be as impressively homosexual as unbearably precocious. The danger in "his" ideology - the so-called "two-flames" fairy-tale - lies in the eventually hopeless life-long search of the individual who believes and follows this saga, which practically means to be forever miserable. Since this movie is over-pretentious it is not surprising that it furthermore even pretends that everybody can and will find his or her "soul mate", equivalent to everlasting happiness. Because life itself proves otherwise it is even needless to explain why this fable represents in itself a severe reality distortion. But it is en-vogue to think that way these days, and people need - just like little children - sweet bedtime-stories as sort of happy-pills against the nameless dread(s) of our existence. Therefore people will love this film, especially if one chose to live a rather shallow life, and better not want to question, examine and analyze so-called "truths". Then again: of course we're all sick and tired of racism of all kinds - and rightfully so; one of it's most extreme form - so-called "gay-bashing" - is truly wrong and totally to despise. But this film - probably unwillingly - contributes to this old hatred in displaying "alternative" people as some sort of gay-shaman (the formerly mentioned "wise-guy" and the as primitively-dumb as vulgar-crude woman friend of one of the two woman lead roles). Watching these aversive characters I wonder: why not use ordinary grown-ups "like you an me" who can make the difference as well by showing tolerance? Why must it always be "strange" people who one usually (or: hopefully, in this case) will never meet in real life, who take over the role as "soul-advisors"? The movie would have gained enormously by showing normal people. The way this film was made I'm afraid it will only contribute to old gender stereotypes that in the end fuel even more hate. So everybody in this movie has his or her companion-guide who appears to be rather deranged than positive object, with which the viewer could identify in good manner. The same goes for the as well stereotyped pastor of a Christian church - true bible believers will hate this movie for it: there's this parish-woman and with her comes another undercurrent of adultery - this time on the Christian side. Of course the pastor is not practicing what he preaches (if one does not think he's - of course - preaching hatred), and of course the obsessive-compulsively moral churchwoman is a two-faced-creature (following, of course, rather the seven deadly sins than the word of God), and of course all possible clichés in the fields of homosexuality and of religion are borrowed here (yawn). It is clear: Christian believers are evil moralist culprits, homosexuals are innocent victims. It seems thus as if all characters were created out of the box of meanwhile super-boring stereotyped ideas, while the way fashionable subjects (like "Is being gay normal?" or "Should gay couples be allowed to have children?" - both answered positively in this film) are being treated in this movie reminded me of Goebbels' propaganda films, just the other way round. And yes: of course the hackneyed negative pastor treads his wife of course so rude and insensitive that it seems indeed totally natural that she willingly runs into the open arms of another human being at first sight or possibility. God save our souls from stereotype overflow. How can one bear such stupidity in a plot that just seems to aim at triggering certain feelings (serving as ideological carriers of certain worldviews) in the audience? So, all in all this undone film is because of its unused possibilities and despite the beauty of the two main actresses just another cliché-ridden display of idiocy in form of attempted manipulation of people's opinions. That would not be so grave if it could not be potentially disorientating for young people - or for the rather simple minded. Hell. It should have been really left undone.
Review of Elena Undone
