Passion Flower

Anyone who has ever had their hair cut, a massage or their nails done will be familiar with the 'confessional' nature of these intimate places, where chat rolls along with ease and personal revelations somehow seem to mix readily with stories of holidays and family. Jarrod Whaley's intimate portrait of dancer Ann Law shows the same is true of the tattoo parlour and, perhaps, never more so when the tattoo being created is being placed where your breasts once were.

Ann, like so many women in the modern era, has battled breast cancer not once but twice and faces the same question many have before her - what do you do once you've had a double mastectomy? With prosthesis less than appealing and predatory insurance companies keen to 'strike the deal' over reconstructive surgery even as women are coming to terms with going under the knife to have their own breasts removed, she has opted to take a more creative approach and create a work of art on her chest - the passion flower of the film's title.

Although welcoming group attempts to find cures for the disease, Ann is keen to point out that "the individual in cancer is extremely important". She is a talker and Whaley's camera waits patiently as the passion flower - and her argument regarding the state of the health system and view point on cancer - take shape. Since the process is a lengthy one there is also time to drink in the opinions and humanity of those around Ann, including the tattoo artist, Skip, who is almost reverential in his treatment of her.

Some of the camerawork is a little rough and ready - but since this is a 'once in a lifetime' chance to catch this unique tattoo in the making, the odd moments of blurring can be forgiven. Equally, the noise of the tattoo needle occasionally vies with Ann for sound supremacy but Whaley is clearly aware of this, focussing on the dancer's face at crucial moments to make sure we catch what she is saying. This is a quietly powerful look at one woman's story, told with delicacy and passion. The final tattoo is beautiful, though not quite as remarkable as Ann's spirit.