Description

The Man Without a Face 1993
PG-13 | 1h 55min | Drama | 3 November 1994 (Hungary)

Storyline:

The story of a relationship between a teacher and his troubled pupil. Justin McLeod is a former teacher who lives as a recluse on the edge of town. His face is disfigured from an automobile accident and fire ten years before in which a boy was incinerated and for which he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. He is also suspected of being a pedophile. He is befriended by Chuck, igniting the town’s suspicion and hostility. McLeod instills in his protégé a love of justice and freedom from prejudice which sustains Chuck beyond the end of the film.

User review:

With he demands of family and work, I usually don’t have time to watch movies. With an 8 and 4 year old, and another on the way, we usually end up watching children’s movies, light comedies, or Sci-fi, but I accidentally picked this movie, and I wish my boys were old enough to watch this.

Inspirational! Reflects on “To Kill a Mockingbird” – a movie I didn’t fully understand until I was much older. This Gibson movie tactfully demonstrates the struggles boys must face and grow through in a complicated real world, without reducing to typical stereotypes, particularly feminist stereotypes of boys who promote the myth that boys are born privileged and lead privileged lives.

The story line may be a little too sophisticated, but showing them that it’s normal for boys to have questions, frustrations, etc… is good for them to see because the movie goes on to show that this “energy” can be productively directed, that boys must take responsibility for the things that they want and the things that they do, but most of all, that they have to learn to think for themselves and come to their own conclusions, and not rely on what other people say or tell them to think. Great movies for entertainment are easy to find, but trying to find movies with Hyman…– morals – learning lessons – is hard to find. Great movie for kids to learn from, or great movie for adults to appreciate.

Director: Mel Gibson
Writers: Isabelle Holland (novel), Malcolm MacRury (screenplay)
Stars: Mel Gibson, Nick Stahl, Margaret Whitton