Ilona Upstairs (2004)

ILONA UPSTAIRS is a portrait of an artist a glimpse at a butterfly who wants no association with her life as a caterpillar In this mixed format documentary deftly filmed in part by Albert Maysles Ilona sings dances orates paints swims and smells the roses but will not under any circumstances face the specifics of her painful past Melissa Hammel the director and Ilonas downstairs neighbor aspires to unearth some of Ilonas many skeletons in order to learn how one transitions from a place of great sorrow to a place of great joy Sometimes Melissa tiptoes around issues sometimes she asks directly Repeatedly however she is met with a stiff arm Perhaps the more important lessons are found in Ilonas present as shes insisted all along