An Oversimplification of Her Beauty

An Oversimplification of Her Beauty is a love story, and it appropriately feels as if it has been made with the heart more than the head. This debut feature from artist Terence Nance is overstuffed with ideas and full of clashing styles and tones, but as he imaginatively explores his unrequited longing for a fellow artist (Namik Minter), he comes up with some piercing insights and resonant truths about the nature of love and relationships.

There’s an arresting sense of freedom and playfulness in Nance’s rejection of cinematic convention here. He moves back and forward in time through the ejection and insertion of VHS tapes, and he incorporates a breathtakingly varied and striking series of animated sequences to bring his past romances to life. This is bold, ambitious and beguiling filmmaking from a young talent who has burst forth with a distinctive vision and a clear, heartfelt voice. Sure, you can accuse An Oversimplification of Her Beauty of being ungainly, contradictory and confusing, but then, so is love. [Philip Concannon]