Director: John Cassavetes
Country: USA
Award: none
Movement: New Hollywood
Faces is aptly titled: this seminal John Cassavetes film is composed almost entirely of tight, often uncomfortable close-ups. Set in the fourteenth year of the marriage between Richard (John Marley) and Maria (Lynn Carlin), the narrative examines a union in which neither partner is satisfied. Maria seeks emotional and romantic fulfillment with friends outside the marriage, while Richard turns to the company of a prostitute (Gena Rowlands). Maria’s own brief encounter with a young drifter (Seymour Cassel) proves no more rewarding than her stagnant relationship at home. Although the film runs 130 minutes in its released form, it reportedly originated as a six-hour cut, a length that suggests an even more demanding viewing experience. Despite moments that may appear uneven—by turns awkward and insightful—the work remains deeply sincere. Its artistic merit was recognized by the Venice Film Festival, which honored the film with five awards. Faces stands as a quintessential example of Cassavetes’ improvisational, cinéma vérité approach and his probing investigations into the complexities of contemporary relationships.
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