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Nick Meunier’s The Mother of Beauty shines a light on the serenity of nature while going as dark as possible when the struggle of life disrupts that familiarity. This short film straddles the uneasy balance between life, death, and the cycle in which both flow. The Mother of Beauty is a story that doesn’t shy away from the shadow of tragedy.
Synopsis:
A single mother-to-be lives in isolation on the edge of the wilderness. She makes a living using the remains of dead animals to create art and memorialize the lives that once were. As she attempts to overcome the struggles of parenthood, the forces of life and death pull her in opposing directions, and she must find a way to reconcile the two before they tear her apart.
Review:
The Mother of Beauty instantly pulls the audience into its world with its rich visuals and picturesque landscapes. Director of photography Steven Hayes (Rememory 2017) does a phenomenal job of making nature itself a driving character in the film. The contrasts in the way lighting is used to differentiate the feeling of freedom of the outdoors and the containment of the indoors is palpable.
Robert Warren (Batwoman TV series) nails the production design in The Mother of Beauty. The décor of the cabin and especially the work space where our main character, Helena, (Tristan Risk: American Mary 2012 – read our coverage here), creates her art is so visually tactile, I found myself pausing the film to take it all in during subsequent rewatches.
Director Nick Meunier (Ravage-2014) captures every emotion, and subtle nuance of Tristan Risk’s brilliant character showcase. Risk carries the film opposite baby Winter West never uttering a single line of dialogue, yet speaking volumes with her emoting.
Tristan Risk shows her true range in The Mother of Beauty, relying on a pure dramaturgy to carry the viewer through all the different stages her subject runs through. I have seen more than a few of her films and honestly believe that this is one of Risk’s best works to date.
Final Thoughts
The Mother of Beauty is the perfect example of what happens when true artists and professionals come together to make something that marries each of their expertise into a singular vision. From the visuals to the score, the sound design to Tristan’s performance, everyone involved managed to create a well paced, exceptional short film.
I highly recommend checking out The Mother of Beauty to see for yourself the transitions the main character makes and how dark they really take it. Take a look for yourself at the trailer below for a little taste of what I’m talking about, and as always…
Stay scary, Horror Fans!
