

Over the years, a child's romantic ideals about death blossom into necrophilia, the study of embalming and the most profound relationship of her life.
Acting
Molly Parker's trance-like serenity — never exploitative, always unsettling.
Direction
Stopkewich shoots death with the tenderness most directors reserve for sex.
Cinematography
Glowing corpses like saints in paintings. You'll never unsee it.

Director
Lynne Stopkewich
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Barbara Gowdy's short story 'We So Seldom Look on Love,' which was itself inspired by real necrophile Karen Greenlee's writings. Stopkewich fought to keep the female gaze central — refusing to make Sandra a victim or a villain.
The film was banned in several Australian regions and caused walkouts at Sundance. Parker prepared by visiting funeral homes and asking to watch embalmings — most refused, one said yes.
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