The idyllic scenery fused with haunting stories create a kind of ‘trouble-in-paradise’ foreboding that adds a certain irony to the films of the New Caribbean Cinema Series (NCCS).

Following the standards set by its predecessors Coast and Chicken Pill, Missed — the third instalment within the series — written and directed by Michelle Serieux, offers similar commentary.

“Life is not a beach,” says Serieux, “the sun-sand-and-sea appeal is superficial…these films have depth.”

Set in the Blue Mountains, Serieux says the beauty of the rolling hills, the morning mist and breathtaking vistas function like a character, a spiritual space with which the actors interact to deepen the plot.

“I find a lot of young Caribbean film-makers are fascinated with visual beauty, but with even that there’s a sinister undertone,” shares Storm Saulter, who is also a member of NCCS and director of Coast.

“Our films are going beneath the prettiness, though it’s not about showing ‘gansterism’… it’s more about showing the darkness of the human soul.”

Missed tells the story of Catherine (played by Sharea Samuels), who comes to Jamaica from the United Kingdom and is forced to come to terms with her husband Ean ‘s (played by Roger Guenveur Smith) roots.

“Missed is a story of love, loss and unmet expectations,” Serieux tells SO, “It’s really my reflection on life and how narcissistic we, as humans, can be.”

Serieux who says she conceptualised the film after noticing people’s innate selfishness and dealing with feelings when a loved one dies.

“It’s an exploration of death as well…but the bottom line is that life goes on and there’s always a tomorrow,” she adds, noting, too, that the complexity of life sometimes allows us to miss the “little things”.

Missed marks the first time Serieux is in the director’s chair as part of the NCCS.

“It was a really intense experience; as I wrote, co-produced and directed,” Serieux shares. It’s also the first NCCS film to be spearheaded by a female; a fact Serieux hadn’t given much thought to since sexism wasn’t a part of the group’s modus operandi.

“My director’s confidence wasn’t questioned, there’s no stepping on toes in our group…we work together for the good of the product,” she adds.

The 20-minute film is the longest the team has produced and unlike one-day productions Coast and Chicken Pill, Missed was completed in one and a half days. Filmed on Richard and Jason Sharp’s property on Clifton Mount, Serieux says she is proud of the work she and her team put in to make the film a success.

“Being writer, producer, director was a balancing act for me…I’m very grateful for the crew I worked with,” she says, noting that her collaboration with other artists, production professionals and musician Seretse Small, who worked on the score, resulted in the film’s “A-plus” status.

“It’s great to find someone in the Caribbean who is totally competent musically; and who can use that competence to enhance the cinematic experience.”

The NCCS will, for the first time, allow the public to view the films during the Calabash weekend in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth; where they will host intimate private screenings.

“We have secured a room for the Saturday between 6:30 and 8:00 pm,” Saulter says adding that both he and Serieux along with actor Marlon Stewart Gaynor will facilitate a Q&A session at the festival after the showing the film.

The group has also launched a new website www.newcaribbeancinema.com which hosts interviews with the various directors, film clips, audition calls and script ideas.

For now though, the group is focused on getting the word about Missed out there and Serieux hopes that those who see it will at least be stirred to introspection.

“I’d like my audience, after seeing the film, to appreciate the transience of life,” Serieux shares, releasing a sigh, “I’d want them to be a bit more present and not take nature’s ephemerality for granted.”