As the date of her first televised appearance draws near, a cello prodigy and her stage mother grapple with public expectations. Clara Mamet directs and stars in “Nell,” an enthralling dark comedy dissecting and disassembling themes of fame and physical appearance. A slow punch-in brings us into the world of Nell, her mother, and their Hollywood apartment. Nell’s face is perpetually covered by a black veil to hide her appearance; her mother struggles as well to reveal herself to a potential boyfriend. As Nell prepares for her upcoming performance, the nature of the invitation shifts and a visit from “cousin Suzanne” stirs up the conflict. Performances by Mamet (the mother) and Rebecca Pidgeon (Suzanne) carry the drama with sharp dialogue and a taste for the provocative. -JM. Director/Writer: Clara Mamet. Cast: Clara Mamet, Rebecca Pidgeon, Katja Grober, Yi-Mei Templeman, Bob Mamet. Producer: Adam Wyatt Tate, Jacob Agger. EP: Sarah Winshall (Smudge Films). DP: Jeff Cohn. Production Design: Kimberly Redman. Sound Recordist: Alex Bologna. Production Coordinator: Po Wei Su. Editor: Venya Bruk. Sound Design: Chase Everett. Trailer song by: Rebecca Pidgeon, David Batteau.