One of the most disturbing aspects of Black Aura on an Angel is that the film, originally released in 2004 and now available on DVD, is based on true events.
This psychological thriller chronicles the havoc that unchecked mental illness can wreak on a relationship – in this case, between an African-American lesbian couple. But unlike most films that explore tortured minds, this one doesn’t romanticize illness and doesn’t center on the ill individual. Black Aura is concerned with how one woman’s psychological problems affect the woman who falls in love with her.
Angel (Faith Trimel, who is also the filmmaker) has it bad for Phaedra (Sherry Richardson) from the first moment they meet. The enchantment is mutual, and the two soon fall in love with each other.
Phaedra is spunky, alive and a little unpredictable, while Angel is grounded, even-keeled and dependable. Each is drawn to what she sees in the other as complementary to herself. But what could have been an opposites-attract tale quickly becomes a saga of co-dependence.
Black Aura traces the path of their destructive relationship, charting its bumpy course in a manner that is both plausible and gripping. Angel is a character who is easy to relate to, and since the story unfolds from her point of view, it is easy for the viewer to get caught up in the drama just as Angel does.
Angel’s best friend, Jennings (Debra Calloway Duke), who is a psychic, tries to warn her that Phaedra has a dark side, going so far as telling her that Phaedra has a black aura. But Angel is so bewitched that she makes light of her friend’s uneasiness with her new girl. Angel doesn’t want to hear it, and really, who would? Even as the portent of Jennings ‘ assessment is obvious to the viewer, Angel doesn’t come across as outlandishly foolish in choosing not to listen. Instead of groaning with frustration at the character on screen, we can instead sit back and marvel at how easily someone could fall into Angel’s situation.
At first the lovers ride the high of their new relationship, but the honeymoon ends quickly and abruptly as Phaedra’s insecurities bubble to the surface, soon giving way to a roiling brew of jealous delusions. At first she acts out her rage on herself, but eventually she targets Angel as well.
Phaedra’s extreme emotions and behavior are partially explained via murky flashbacks of childhood abuse. No doubt many viewers will be turned off by the association between a lesbian character and a history of sexual abuse. But because Phaedra isn’t the only lesbian character in the film, it’s harder to justify that kind of snap judgment. Thankfully in this case, a psychological condition is not equated with sexual orientation.
As Phaedra convinces Angel that Angel is all she has, it’s no surprise that Angel is soon promising never to leave Phaedra. The film then explores what happens to such induced promises once a relationship becomes tumultuous and even violent. Angel loses herself in striving to be Phaedra’s everything.
First-time filmmaker Trimel doesn’t shy away from exploring controversial territory, whether it be a lesbian character’s childhood abuse or violence in an African-American relationship. But her film depicts the universality of these themes and manages to do so without being didactic or judgmental.
Trimel, based in Atlanta and originally from Chicago, had six years’ experience acting, as well as a bachelor’s degree in theater, when she made Black Aura, her directorial debut. She also wrote the screenplay, produced and edited the film.
Her decision to cast herself in the film was a sound one rather than the solipsistic move some might suspect. She is striking in appearance, and her understated and convincing performance is easily the strongest in the film.
She has written, as well as portrayed, a character that viewers will be able to relate to ? a smart, down-to-earth woman who is mesmerized by a bad seed masquerading as a precious gem.
While Richardson’s performance as Phaedra has been lauded in some reviews, it too frequently errs on the side of heavy-handedness. Her character is based on a real person, and perhaps the train wreck of a woman portrayed in the film really did roll her eyes in an exaggerated way and could turn a smile on or off like a switch.
But Phaedra would have been more engrossing and her story more gripping if the viewer weren’t distracted by what seems like overacting. The line between sane and insane, as embodied by the two lead characters, is drawn too cleanly because of Richardson ‘s diva-like screen demeanor.
That said, Richardson is gorgeous, and she will captivate many a viewer with that quality alone. And the fact that she stepped up to the plate a mere week before shooting began ? when the actor who was originally cast suddenly had reservations about playing a lesbian ? is very impressive.
Multi-talented actor, writer and director Trimel may also be behind the soundtrack of the film, which is credited to “Trymel.” For the most part, the music complements the action and at times it is noticeable in a pleasing way. But in one scene in particular ? when Angel is giving Phaedra a luxurious bath worthy of Cleopatra, the refrain “When I bathe you” is whispered in the soundtrack ? it comments too literally on the action and is distracting and a bit annoying
At 65 minutes, Black Aura straddles two formats. It runs long for a short film, but is shorter than a typical feature.
Yet it seems like the appropriate length for the story at hand, and I’m grateful that Trimel didn’t feel compelled to squeeze her story into 30 minutes or pad it to 90. The film’s length allows the story to be told at a gripping pace, and the plot feels neither belabored nor was it given short shrift.
Black Aura is shot on mini-DV rather than film, as are many low-budget, independent movies. But the production values are such that some viewers might not notice that it wasn’t shot on film. Trimel has said of Black Aura, “I see all the glitches, all the continuity conflicts and all the mistakes. My critical eye missed nothing. But the strength of this project is the story, its suspense and sensuality,” and I’d have to agree.
For more on the film or to get it on DVD, visit blackauraonanangel.com.
