QFest opens with a surprise double

Philadelphia QFest, the city's premiere gay and lesbian film festival, launches Thursday with a sweet surprise: For the first time in its 16-year history, it will feature not one, but two opening-night films, queued to different audiences.

Jay Arnold's You Can't Have it All, a romantic comedy set in Philadelphia, will serve as the guy flick. (It was unavailable for review.)

Elena Undone, an intense drama about the sexual awakening of a closeted lesbian, will serve as the chick flick.

A promising if disappointing entry from writer-director Nicole Conn (Claire of the Moon, little man), Elena Undone has its heart in the right place.

Sadly, that's just about the only thing that works in the film, which chronicles the romantic and sexual awakening of an erstwhile happily married woman who has spent her life repressing her desires, including her attraction to other women.

The film stars the stunning German-born actress Necar Zadegan (Fox' 24) as the titular Elena, a beautiful if emotionally unavailable woman from a traditional Indian family. Her husband, Barry (Gary Weeks), is an evangelical pastor. Elena seems to live a happy life: She and Barry are deeply involved in church activities - which include organizing demonstrations against gay marriage, abortion, and all sorts of liberal evils.

Elena is clearly uncomfortable with her friends' political leanings, but, as with all potentially threatening emotions, she represses her doubts - until, one day, she meets Peyton (Traci Dinwiddie), a lesbian writer mired in regret, depression, and guilt following disastrous past relationships.

Elena feels an immediate jolt at first sight. But, with her inexperience, repressive nature, and traditional values, and Peyton's neuroses, the couple have to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to connect.

Zadegan and Dinwiddie are electric together. The film would be a treat if it focused on their affair alone.

Sadly, Conn has buried them under weak subplots, lame secondary characters, and wishy-washy New Age life lessons.

Elena - and, ostensibly, the viewers' - lesson includes the belief that love must always trump politics. Alas, Elena's old crowd, as fervently religious as they are, just don't get it. Perhaps that's because Conn has set them up as closed-minded, bigoted straw men (and women).

The film becomes a parody of itself in scenes devoted to self-described soulologist Tyler (Sam Harris). Tyler has two equally annoying roles. He dispenses sage advice about life and love to the main characters. He also appears during silly intervals in the main action to deliver puerile monologues about love, the soul, and the concept of soul mates.

Peel off all these extraneous elements, and Elena Undone has the potential of being a moving romance.

Directed by Nicole Conn. With Necar Zadegan, Traci Dinwiddie, Gary Weeks, Sam Harris. Distributed by Wolfe Releasing.

Running time: 1 hour, 51 mins

Parent's guide: Not rated (mature themes, nudity, profanity)

Screening at: Ritz East on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. and Saturday at 12:15 p.m., Part of Philadelphia QFest, which continues through July 19. For information, call 267-765-9800, Ext. 4 or visit www.qfest.com.EndText