The Face of Love

After the death of her husband Garrett, Nikki tries to come to terms with her loss. She lives in a dreamlike world of remembrance. Nikki sees Garrett everywhere and because he haunts her world she has stopped going to the places they used to love going too together. This changes when her daughter suggests that she go to the art museum and try to move on with her life. After a visit however something happens that rocks her world, she sees Garrett exact double.

In this film we have three great acting talents working on fine form. Bening is superb as the grief stricken wife, given another chance to see the man she loved. Her performance is nuanced and empathetic, communicating great tenderness and emotional vulnerability. Ed Harris is also excellent in a role that he could have walked through. He gives both characters depth and you find his company both interesting and likable. He also has a presence onscreen that is engaging. You watch him and are pulled into his characters, even if he plays them understated and in the background. The great and sadly missed talent of Robin Williams is also on form as a neighbour who baring a loss of a partner has become Benings friend and confidante. He is always excellent onscreen and here he plays the role with both a touch of warmth and caring.


The direction is clean and clear, with a method that isn’t overly inventive but gives the film room to breathe and the story a place to grow. Posin is the kind of direct who is extremely capable of making a crafted and well produced film and here he is on target. The production looks amazing, the spaces are filled with light which complements the world inhabited. This is also complemented by the crisp photography, which I adored and must applaud. Some of the compositions are also sublime, in that they do not force the attention just they tell their story with little aggression.Where the film fails however is in its pacing. The film is less fluid than it would like to be, much in part to the repeated returning to these spaces for exposition. They add to the duration and feeling that it is longer than need be. I do however feel it helped develop some of the character elements but was overall unnecessary.

The major issue with this film however comes about after the first act is over. Films about the reappearance of the dead or dopple gangers are not rare. This idea itself has made some of cinemas greatest works such as Vertigo, which this film nods its head directly too. The issue here is the emphasis and point being relayed to the audience. My point is that if you are going to see this film, do not go expecting that type of film. This is a tender and emotionally complex love story. That is not to say that Vertigo wasn’t, just that this is about the loss of love and the desperation to find it again. Not about redemption and obsession. Vertigo is a better film but both films share a common link. What if we had done it differently? I wonder if the director may ask that. He doesn’t need to as I feel he did a good job with the idea he had.