IMDb RATING
5.0/10
5.8K
YOUR RATING
In the midst of African social horror, a love between two volunteers fades out and is reborn.In the midst of African social horror, a love between two volunteers fades out and is reborn.In the midst of African social horror, a love between two volunteers fades out and is reborn.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Hopper Penn
- Billy Boggs
- (as Hopper Jack Penn)
Tinarie van Wyk Loots
- UN Staffer
- (as Tinarie van Wyk-Loots)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
The general low rate given to the film can only be explained by the prejudice to the theme, the Western disinterest in debating Africa.
Surely the movie is not so weak to have a 4.7 rating.
Anyway, the movie is hard, very hard to watch. It shows one side of African life that no one in the West cares to know, much less give way to. And though a lot of people might think that the realism that Sean Penn employs in some scenes is exaggerated, in fact the real hell out there is much worse than in the movie. In addition we have the hard life of the doctors, impotent in the face of so much cruelty, and who still have to maintain the dignity and the healthy mind to continue his heroic work. Not everyone can handle it.
Good performance of Charlize and Javier, in a cast in general quite correct.
Unfortunately not everything is perfect and the direction sometimes is irregular, breaking the tense and distressing rhythm of the movie with romantic moments.
Still I give 7.0.
This film tells the story of a female doctor who goes to Africa for a humanitarian mission. She witnesses many horrors on both a personal and transpersonal level.
"The Last Face" starts off strong by depicting an African community that is savaged by war. The humanitarian workers do what they can with limited resources, amid dangers around them. This transpersonal altruism is to be applauded. However, the film then descends into a Tesla romantic drama. I honestly don't care for their relationships. I actually know for a fact that romance is discouraged in these humanitarian projects, so the film loses credibility once romance is touched upon. What makes it worse is that there is this health scare in the middle of the story, and it is not followed up again. It is a pity, as a film about humanitarian missions could have been tear jerking.
"The Last Face" starts off strong by depicting an African community that is savaged by war. The humanitarian workers do what they can with limited resources, amid dangers around them. This transpersonal altruism is to be applauded. However, the film then descends into a Tesla romantic drama. I honestly don't care for their relationships. I actually know for a fact that romance is discouraged in these humanitarian projects, so the film loses credibility once romance is touched upon. What makes it worse is that there is this health scare in the middle of the story, and it is not followed up again. It is a pity, as a film about humanitarian missions could have been tear jerking.
Very deep and meaningful story about the shocking things that are still are happening today, while this film has a very cool cinematic look and great acting it becomes very slow and about 30 minutes to long, the ending is good with a little twist which could easily be missed so pay attention.
First,let me respond to all the negative reviews of this film.Oh the self-righteousness! Oh the humanity! Yes,this movie is a love story that takes place in Africa amidst turmoil and terror,and yes-its the Africans who are the victims in this movie-not the "white saviors". It never claimed to be anything else. Before I review the actually film,I have to ask people who rated this movie negatively solely for its "white saviors of black people" premise; is it a crime for white people to go to Africa to try to help Africans and also fall in love with each other?In your outrage at believing this movie undermines the humanity of Africans, you strip the white characters of their humanity.I've fought racism all my life whenever the opportunity presented itself,and am a firm supporter of Black Lives Matter.Of course a non-black person cannot say they are anti-racism without immediately condemning themselves to scrutiny and "aha's!" from others.Skipping the am I racist rant,I just could not understand why just about everyone immediately condemned the white lovers/activists for daring to be in Africa to help refugees of war and audaciously fall in love. Should white people stay out of Africa? Yes if they are there to exploit.If they are there to help,then by all means..help.
The film is gorgeous.Charline steals the show once again. The brutality,horror and hellishness of what Africans face is not watered down,not reduced to art.It is full in your face truth.Its funny how people who hate the white activists also seem to ignore the horrors that Africans face in their desperate self righteousness. Throw the baby out with the bathwater I guess? This stunningly beautiful film will stay with me a long time,and I already know it belongs with my other favorites of this genre...which also received poor reviews for the white savior premise....Keys to the Kingdom and The Revenant.White people who bridged the gap between cultures and ethnicities rather than be hateful,violent and racist.These types of movies really tick people off.Tough.The world needs more bridges,less hate and condemnation. The Last Face is a precious gem for that reason...if you happen to go to Africa as an activist, and you want to make a difference in the lives of Africans who have suffered(often because of the west's exploitive racist ways) ...don't feel guilty ,even if you fall in love....
The film is gorgeous.Charline steals the show once again. The brutality,horror and hellishness of what Africans face is not watered down,not reduced to art.It is full in your face truth.Its funny how people who hate the white activists also seem to ignore the horrors that Africans face in their desperate self righteousness. Throw the baby out with the bathwater I guess? This stunningly beautiful film will stay with me a long time,and I already know it belongs with my other favorites of this genre...which also received poor reviews for the white savior premise....Keys to the Kingdom and The Revenant.White people who bridged the gap between cultures and ethnicities rather than be hateful,violent and racist.These types of movies really tick people off.Tough.The world needs more bridges,less hate and condemnation. The Last Face is a precious gem for that reason...if you happen to go to Africa as an activist, and you want to make a difference in the lives of Africans who have suffered(often because of the west's exploitive racist ways) ...don't feel guilty ,even if you fall in love....
Did you know
- TriviaThe film was a passion project for Robin Wright who tried to get it made in 2004. She was the one who brought on Javier Bardem and Sean Penn in various roles. After funding fell through, Wright abandoned the project. Penn resurrected the film after he and Wright divorced, deciding to take on directing duties, and casting his then girlfriend Charlize Theron in the role Wright had wanted to play.
- How long is The Last Face?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $1,161,751
- Runtime
- 2h 10m(130 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.40 : 1
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