Review of Faces (1968) by Cate H — 22 Jan 2008

I dreaded seeing this film as much as I looked forward to it. I dreaded seeing it because I was afraid it wouldn't live up to my expectations, that it would just be boring, that it would be too exhausting for me to sit through, that somehow I "wouldn't get it." Luckily, none of that was true.

I found myself enraptured by what was going on in the movie. 2 hours and 10 minutes passed by like 20 minutes. An amazing film. As other people have said, it's incredibly real and truthful. The acting is amazing on all counts. Surprisingly moving, in that it's surprising where in the picture I was moved most. I would recommend to most people to go into this movie blind, not knowing what to expect. It's a powerful film, that's for sure.

People laugh. There is laughing throughout this entire movie. People laugh because if they didn't, they would scream or cry or kill themselves. Sometimes they scream and cry and kill themselves anyway. There is so much desperation and loneliness everywhere. But also human contact and hope and love. What can be said about this movie that hasn't already been said? Watch the movie - Cassavetes and his actors say it all.