Rating: NNNNN
FACE VALUE (Johan van der Keuken, 1991) shows us faces from all over Europe shot in lingering close-ups with a voice-over of their thoughts. It takes a while to relax into van der Keuken’s rhythms and non-linear framework. It takes even longer to realize that politics underlies every person’s story. But once you figure out what van der Keuken is doing, his unconventional method seems touched by genius. Why show a whole scene when just a face will do? It’s more fun to figure out the context after you get to know the participants — the contortionist who blithely claims that rape victims ask for it the cheerless couple getting lectured about world peace during their wedding ceremony the polo player who defends limiting the game to the rich. Face Value is my favourite van der Keuken film, but Cinematheque’s timely retrospective also includes The Eye Above The Well, a chronicle of Indian traditions, Last Words — My Sister Yoka, a moving interview conducted with his sister shortly before her death, and the filmmaker’s final journey before he passed away this January, The Long Holiday. NNNN (May 29, Cinematheque)
Kim Linekin
