Face
Face
An ambitious drama that tells an ultimately uplifting story about the importance of family and the role it plays in shaping a child’s life.
Purchase the DVD Here.
NOT AVAILABLE ON DEMAND
OFFICIAL TRAILER
SYNOPSIS
An ambitious drama that tells an ultimately uplifting story about the importance of family and the role it plays in shaping a child’s life. Genie (Kristy Wu) is a Chinese-American teenager who has been raised by her loving, but traditionally valued grandmother (Kieu Chinh).
Abandoned by her mother, Kim (Bai Ling), just after giving birth to her, Genie is caught by her respect for her grandmother’s values and her own feelings of love. Genie has caught the attention of a charming African-American DJ, Michael (Treach), but when Genie’s grandmother learns that Michael is black, her traditional sensibilities threaten to ruin the only familial bond Genie has, forcing Genie to mature at a time when she should be dizzy with youth.
Sensitive, heartfelt drama features marvelous performances by its wide-ranging cast, including Wu, Ling, Treach, Ken Leung and Will Yun Lee.
TECH SPECS
Runtime: 89 min.
Format: 1:85 (35 MM)
Sound: Dolby SR
MPAA rating: R
Genre: Drama
Country: NYC, USA
CAST & CREW
Directed by: Bertha Bay-Sa Pan
Writer: Oren Moverman
Starring: Bai Ling, Kristy Wu, Kieu Chinh, Anthony “Treach” Criss, Ken Leung and Will Yun Lee
AWARDS, FESTIVALS, PUBLICITY
Official Selection — Sundance Film Festival
Grand Jury Prize of Best Feature — Urbanworld Film Festival
Grand Jury Prize of Best Feature — Gen – Art Film Festival
Grand Jury Prize of Best Feature — Cine Vegas Film Festival
Official Selection — Gotham Film Festival
Official Selection — Wisconsin Film Festival
Official Selection — Toronto Independent Film Festival
Official Selection — Daytona Beach Film Festival
Official Selection — Spaghetti Junction Festival
Official Selection — Denver Film Festival
“Focused and direct with the emotional weight of the story carried well on the shoulders of the actors who bring intensity to their roles. Marks an upswing in the acting career of hip hop artist, Treach.”
James Hill • BET
(***)”It’s a perceptively written and imaginatively directed film. But, most of all, it’s brilliantly acted. Bay-Sa Pan’s three actresses give astonishingly varied, spontaneous, powerfully human, award-worthy portrayals. As a filmmaker, she succeeds on almost every level: generating atmosphere, weaving an engrossing tale and eliciting marvelous performances.”
Michael Wilmington • Chicago Tribune
Bay-Sa Pan’s sensitive, heartfelt indie drama features marvelous performances by its wide-ranging cast, including Wu, Ling, Treach, and Ken Leung. An ambitious drama that tells an ultimately uplifting story about the importance of family.
Andy Hunsaker • Yahoo Critic
“Blends the traditions of Chinese culture with contemporary hip hop in a vibrant and exciting manner.”
Independent Film & Video
“Luminous. The actors are exceptional…with a vibrant hip-hop score and atmospheric cinematography”
Kirk Honeycutt • Hollywood Reporter
“Taiwanese-raised director Bertha Bay-Sa Pan’s formidable feature debut reveals the toll on Asians who must maintain ‘Face’. Pan elicits beautiful performances from the actresses playing the three women.”
Kevin Thomas • Los Angeles Times
“Heartfelt, emotionally gripping drama about three generations of Chinese…”
Melissa Levine • SF Weekly
“…sexy, convincingly willful Kristy Wu and the smoldering Ling are the strongest moments…”
Village Voice
“…Well made, nice performances…”
David Sterritt • Christian Science Monitor
“…exquisite Bai Ling shows tremendous range and Ms. Wu pulls off the neat trick of being simultaneously sullen and radiant…”
Dana Stevens • NY Times
“a film with visual flair, musical inspiration and dramatic gravity. From the top to the bottom the performances are rich in detail and intelligence…”
Lisa Rose • NJ Star Ledger
“…wonderful performances featuring Treach in a standout performance that expands his range magnificently…”
Mosaec
“…crackles…”
Newsday
“a formidable debut for Bertha Bay-Sa Pan it packs a lot of emotion, Chinese culture, a hip-hop score and four surprisingly strong performances. Treach (of Naughty by Nature), delivers a star-making performance…”
Bob Greene • Honolulu Weekly
“…Face becomes a study of the immigrant embrace of freedom in America — Ling, delicate and haunted, and Wu, a real spitfire, make their reconciliation sting as much as it soothes…”
Owen Gleiberman • Ent. Weekly
