NFSF
15m
A Gothic rock opera involving star-crossed lovers from different worlds who cannot leave their kind to be together. One lover makes the ultimate sacrifice.
Not Farewell, Sweet Flesh
"Sweet Flesh has that 'Romeo and Juliet', very Baroque, Hammer Film look to it. Almost Ken Russel-esque."
- Film Threat Video Guide
"This film is a rich and exceptionally well-made rock-opera (yes, opera!) concerning the fateful love between a mortal woman,
"Ilsobeah" (Laura Wise), and "Seraph" (Terrence Fleming), a member of the Underworld. Discovered, the lovers are captured
by "Queen Zapkiela" (Lisa Houle) and her minions of punishment-a sentence of death. Needless to say, the couple escapes the
demons to join one another in another world. Sound like a lot to happen in 15 minutes? Well, it is. But by playing the archetypes
(and even the dullest of viewers knows "Romeo and Juliet"), Lisa is able to compress the plot, pour on the spooky atmosphere
and inject dramatic interludes that make Sweet Flesh behave more like a feature than a short. Visually and
textually extravagant with deep reds and soft, pale blues, the film is shot with a simplicity that discards the quick cutting
"music-video" look in favor ofthe dramatic frame or pose. The final shots of the lovers' dying embrace is gorgeous- the moonlight
catching them as they clutch beneath the trees- as is the scene in the Underworld chamber, which is positively lush with a real scale
that expands the film's mythical content. Lisa, who also wrote the film's music and lyrics and sings both the "Zapkiela" and
"Ilsobeah" roles, is obviously one of the more talented filmmakers we've run across in
some time and deserves attention." -Film Threat Magazine
"Lisa shows tremendous ambition in this short feature. Not Farewell, Sweet Flesh is a 15 minute opera that
attempts to establish an otherworldly mythic epic. Lisa effectively creates a somber mood through creative camera work
and excellent lighting. The Neo-Romantic soundtrack is also very effective in embellishing the overall mood."
-Moe Works at Wal-Mart