By Andrea K. Hammer
From the minute that animated figures start walking through a long list of crowd-funding credits and supporters including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Faces Places immediately stands out for several reasons: clever treatment, artistry and inventiveness.
Co-Directors Honor and Validate Subjects in Oversized Wall Portraits
Co-directed by the late leading French New Wave filmmaker Agnes Varda and acclaimed French photographer and muralist JR, the unique film rightfully earned recognition as Best Documentary from the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Despite marked age differences, heights and experiences, the simpatico duo take their shared passion for images to French villages, where they talk with residents, take their extra large-format photos and paste them on local walls. With the help of JR’s astonishing photo truck, the beyond creative pair honor their subjects and stories by displaying mine workers, wives of dock workers, a humane goat keeper and other villagers.
By listening attentively to their tales, truly “seeing” their subjects and displaying their towering images, Agnes Varda and JR offer them pure validation. When many of the men and women first see their oversized portraits, their emotional reactions mark some of the most memorable scenes. Although most find the experience freeing, one shy woman openly discusses her discomfort with the resulting attention.
Rare Filmmaking Adventure Resonates With Authenticity and Humanity
Every second of the 89-minute documentary holds viewers’ interest as it resonates with authenticity and humanity. Similarly revealing a deeply painful experience, French New Wave filmmaker Agnes Varda documents a cruel note from a “friend” who refuses to see her. Rising to comfort his co-director with true compassion, French photographer and muralist JR asks what he can do before finally removing his dark glasses–as Agnes has requested repeatedly throughout the film to allow a true connection.
Although she can’t see him clearly because of blurry vision, the profoundly touching moment is an outstanding one in Faces Places. Along with visually stunning scenes contrasting the size of people against large bodies of water, salt mounds and massive rock formations, each frame creates an extraordinary visual imprint from a unique viewpoint.
As viewers are invited to join this rare adventure, Faces Places by French New Wave filmmaker Agnes Varda and French photographer and muralist JR simply presents the highest level of creativity in documentary filmmaking.
