Reviews by:
@hk_movieaddict
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โ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข. ๐ฝ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ - ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.โ
Pushing the envelope even further, The Face of Another is a bold venture into experimental / avant-garde films. While itโs not for everyone, the story never deviates from the main themes of Teshigahara / Abe works i.e., the loss of identity within an absurd scenario, and the search for meaning of life.
Recovering from a work-related accident, Mr. Okuyama took the offer to wear a new and handsome prosthetic face. As he assumes new identify under the mask, his more erratic and evil intentions also begin to surface. The Psychiatrist famously commented during the beautiful Waltz scene, that โmasks like this could destroy all human moralityโ. The mask/face represents the ability to hide and escape from reality, which somewhat resonates with the world weโre now living in, like individuals behind a screen.
The narrative is abstract and experimental, much like the Psychiatristโs surrealistic clinic design (constructed by Arata Isozaki who drew inspirations from the legendary Antoni Gaudรญ). The side-story of the beautiful girl with severe disfigurement on the right cheek has no connection with the main story, while both characters suffer from alienation. The girlโs constant worry about another war and memory about the sea at Nagasaki suggest that her physical injury and mental trauma were caused during WWII, which carries a subtle but clear anti-war message.
Iโd leave the rest to interested viewers to unveil the mask themselves. Overall, Iโm under the impression that only Hiroshi Teshigahara was able to adapt Kobo Abeโs novels, which are often thought to be excellent but unfilmable.
๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐: Hiroshi Teshigahara
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐: Kรดbรด Abe
๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐: Japan
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐: 2 hours 4 minutes
๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: (~81 mins) โWaltzโ scene
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐: Criterion
๐ธ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐: 78/100
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