Face (2005)

52% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(378 ratings)

Three generations of Chinese women attempt to reconcile the cultural chasm between their traditional heritage and the everyday influences of life in America. Finding herself pregnant, career girl Kim was forced into an unhappy marriage in the late 70s. But Kim decided to flee, leaving her infant… More Three generations of Chinese women attempt to reconcile the cultural chasm between their traditional heritage and the everyday influences of life in America. Finding herself pregnant, career girl Kim was forced into an unhappy marriage in the late 70s. But Kim decided to flee, leaving her infant daughter in her mother's care. Now, year's later, she returns to find her independent daughter Genie involved in a relationship with black DJ Michael, causing controversy.

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Bertha Bay-Sa Pan
Written By: Bertha Bay-Sa Pan, Oren Moverman
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Mar 18, 2005 Limited
On DVD: Feb 7, 2006
Studio: Indican Pictures

Critic Reviews

Michael Booth, Denver Post
By the end of Face, we've been drawn deep into the battle for both communal support and individual freedom that marks the progress of so many ethnic groups in America.
Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic
With no access to these women's inner selves, we are left wanting at least a fuller portrait of their outer lives, some way to infer the meaning that the film declines to provide.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Ling, delicate and haunted, and Wu, a real spitfire, make their reconciliation sting as much as it soothes.
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger
A film with visual flair, musical inspiration and dramatic gravity. From the top to the bottom of the cast list, there are performances rich in detail and intelligence.
Russell Scott Smith, New York Post
It's a tale worth telling again -- especially if you feel the material as strongly as recent Columbia film-school grad Bertha Bay-Sa Pan seems to.
Jami Bernard, New York Daily News
A sincere but superficial version of a familiar story.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
The performances are almost enough to overcome the story's essential inertness.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
New Jersey-born, Taiwan-raised director/cowriter Bay-Sa Pan gives the conflict a culturally particular spin and elicits strong performances from her appealing cast.
Nick Schager, Filmcritic.com
the director seems all too cognizant of her pedestrian script's inability to express more than superficial pathos
, E! Online
Bertha Bay-Sa Pan gets good performances -- notably from Ling, who convincingly evolves from mixed-up coed to successful businesswoman.
David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor
Well made, nice performances, very slowly paced.
Ella Taylor, L.A. Weekly
Feels like the stretched-out short student film that it is.
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Too slight in realization and trite in characterization to work as it might have.
Carlo Cavagna, AboutFilm.com
Face is a film of considerable charm and warmth, even if the material sometimes feels well worn.