Horst_In_Translation Review of Faces Places

Faces Places (2017)

A film that seems far more charming than it actually ends up to be

[4/10 · 18 June 2018]

"Visages villages" is one of the recent Oscar nominees in the Documentary category, actually the very first for renowned director Agnès Varda almost at the age of 90 now and she made this film with JR. You honestly don't find out too much about the latter here, apart from 2 or 3 examples of his art and his idea with the gigantic camera of course that is at the center of the film. And at the center of its trailer too because honestly all the really good moments you find in here are show in the preview already. This really disappointed me. The idea with the big camera I just mentioned already is a good one, but it feels really underused during the film or maybe it was really not possible to make more of it quantity-wise and minute-wise than they did here. The idea of the pretty different duo travelling through the country just doesn't cut the cake in my opinion. Varda is the star here, but some of her comments about dating sites for example do not feel too likable in my opinion. In terms of landscapes and countrysides I also expected more. But yeah the film feels more about people and faces anyway, but the farmer, the mailman and everybody else, all the normal people rarely make a memorable impact, almost never I guess, maybe the one lady who cries when she sees the big photo version of herself, but she is also in the trailer already. Maybe one reason why so many deem this film more interesting than it is is the final reference to Varda's past and her relationship with Godard and how they are paying him a visit. I also could have called this review "Waiting for Godard", especially the way in whcih it turns out. Was it real or scripted, especially with the moment when JR really lifts his shades eventually? It's up to you to decide, but letting us see him as blurry as Varda does is not a bad idea. Still, the last 10 minutes, which may be the best thing about the film are not strong enough to really make me forget about everything mediocre (yes everything) before that. Sadly, I must say I am baffled by the film's success with critics and awards bodies and while I was hoping on Oscar night that Varda can maybe take it, today I must say that this documentary is simply not good enough and that the nomination was already too much I am afraid. It's a pretty simple movie to be honest, but not simple in terms of effortless yet creative, but really simple and not poffering half as much as I hoped it would after seeing the trailer. And it really is not just a case of exaggerated expectations. gotta give this one a thumbs-down. Not recommended.