CHICAGO– If you ever wondered how a polyamorous relationship might play out – in this case He-She-She – then writer/director Marion Hill has created “Ma Belle, My Beauty” as one such delving into the territory. The Gene Siskel Film Center presents the Sundance Film Festival Award Winner through September 8th, 2021. For more information click MABELLE, MYBEAUTY.!—break—>
 Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
What happens when singer Bertie (Idella Johnson) can’t sing anymore? Her collaborator husband Fred (Lucien Guignard) calls her ex-lover Lane (Hannah Pepper), as they were part of a He-She-She relationship before their marriage. The mystery of the connection between Bertie and Lane is the key to this film, an observation into the physical and chemical connection between people and the messy emotions that get in the way. The acting is pitch perfect, and Idella Johnson’s singing voice is heaven on earth. Marion Hill envisions many hallways to go down in this three-way consortium.
Idella Johnson (left) and Hannah Pepper of ‘Ma Belle, My Beauty’
Photo credit: EFI Productions
In February, Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com spoke to lead actors Idella Johnson and Hannah Pepper. Johnson began her acting journey in 2010, and as mentioned does all her own singing in “Ma Belle.” It is her sixth feature film as an actor. Hannah Pepper makes a feature film debut, after winning the role through writer/director Marion Hill. The film was also showcased at the 2021 South X Southwest Film Festival.
In Part One of an interview Via Zoom with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Idella Johnson and Hannah Pepper talk about the elements of creating Bertie and Lane, the polyamorous lovers in “Ma Belle, My Beauty.”
In Part Two, filming intimate scenes and working with writer/director Marion Hill is reflected upon.
 | By PATRICK McDONALD |