Kat Smith has, with The Clearing, demonstrated considerable writing and directorial prowess as she follows two lost and desperate souls who serendipitously connect in a wooded clearing. It portrays neatly and deeply the range of emotion, and possibility, and unpredictability inherent in this archetypical encounter, and through that leaves the viewer wondering on many many levels. It is an elegant work, yielding much zeitgeist from limited footage -- a perfect example of "less is more." I heartily recommend this film, and look forward to more from Ms. Smith.