Khalil Shaun A Woman Under the Influence (1994)

Sharon Lockharts debut film from 1994 is divided into three parts All parts are linked in showing the progression of a devastating skin disease of two tenyearold boys which is successively revealed to be the progression of a skilfully applied special effects makeup Shot against coloured backdrops the first sections show portraits of the boys who are introduced by preceding titles as Khalil and Shaun The third section is a dramatic sequence based on one of the last scenes in John Cassavetess film A Woman Under the Influence 1974 Lockhart refrains from reproducing the scene literally Instead she places and collapses several moments into one amplifying the main theme of the film the attempt to pretend that everything is okay Shaun is presented with his face horribly disfigured by blisters and wounds His mothers pledges of future happiness thus become rather ominous