Film description

Faces and Easy Rider make up James Benning’s diptych of cinematic remakes. Here, the director takes on Faces (1968) by John Cassavetes, a picture that savagely denuded the American suburban dream. Benning uses found footage to create a reconstruction uncompromisingly loyal to the original, often replacing original scenes with copied close-ups of the actors. In this conceptual game, the characters’ emotions and reactions are drawn out over time, slowed down to a near standstill while a minimal soundtrack highlights the film’s unusual intensity. As in all of Benning’s films, this is a self-referencing game with the illusion of cinematic emotions, narrative and time.  

Prepared by: Katarzyna Boratyn