Under my skin

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As part of the Santa Barbara Film Festival we were able to discover the film written and directed by David O'Donnell. It is always interesting to discover a film which approaches a different glance of the current cinema on the human relations and which does not hesitate to break the preconceived ideas. We thus discover Denny, a free spirit, artist and composer. She falls in love with Ryan, a lawyer with a strong character.

This different relationship is put to the test when Denny begins to question her sexual identity. To bring the character of Denny to life, it took four actors Liv Hewso, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Chloe Freeman and Lex Ryan. This particular aspect of the film is as disturbing as it is innovative and brings to the film another reason to see it.

This film is also groundbreaking in the way it approaches non-binary gender as part of the plot itself. Transforming a simple romance of our time, Under My Skin delivers a portrait of two people who are constantly struggling with the disconnect between socially accepted versions of themselves and the truth of what really lies beneath the skin.

The inspired direction of David O'Donnell, who signs his first film here, is also avant-garde and, above all, moves away from the mold of Hollywood films to our great interest. American independent cinema shows once again that it can tackle sensitive subjects with intelligence and honesty.

Under My Skin
A film written and directed by David O'Donnell
Produced by Alex Russell, David O'Donnell, Raynen O'Keefe, Paul F. Bernard, Carrie Finklea, Chase B. Kenney
With Liv Hewson, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Alexis Denisoff, Alex Russell
Music by Evelyn Ida Morris
Cinematography : Jac Fitzgerald
Editor: Kevin Ward
Release date : October 29, 2020 (UK)
Running time: 97 minutes

Seen on April 6, 2021 (SBIFF)

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