ABOUT FACE: THE STORY OF GWENDELLIN BRADSHAW (Mary Rosanne Katzke). 80 minutes. Wednesday (November 11), 1 pm, Workman Theatre. For venues, times and trailers, see Movies. Rating: NNNN
ABOUT FACE: THE STORY OF GWENDELLIN BRADSHAW (Mary Rosanne Katzke). 80 minutes. Wednesday (November 11), 1 pm, Workman Theatre. For venues, times and trailers, see Movies.
In this poignant doc, a charming but directionless young woman sets out to find the mentally ill mother who threw her in a fire when she was 10 months old, leaving her with scars both physical and emotional.
Unobtrusive, sensitive director Mary Rosanne Katzke follows Gwendellin Bradshaw through several years of ups and downs, including a joyful reunion with her half-sister and bouts of depression (including a suicide attempt) that suggest she may have inherited her mom’s illness.
The climax is heart-poundingly suspenseful, and the clear-eyed denouement wonderfully satisfying without being sappy.