The Last Face (2016)

In the midst of African social horror, a love between two volunteers fades out and reborn again.

Director:

Sean Penn

Writer:

Erin Dignam

Stars:

Charlize Theron, Javier Bardem, Brandon Phillips

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlize Theron	...	Wren
Javier Bardem	...	Miguel Leon
Brandon Phillips	...	Youth Orchestra Conductor
Anna Strelkov	...	Sand Painter
Mark De Villiers	...	Wren's Father
Amy Harries-Jones	...	Young Wren
Obed Baloyi	...	Atif
Xavier Guichard	...	UN Student
Jiji Kongolo	...	UN Student
Hopper Penn	...	Billy Boggs (as Hopper Jack Penn)
Atlas James King	...	Mahmoud
William Mkunziza	...	Sudanese National
Halima Abdul Aziz	...	9 Yr. Old African Girl
Abdul Aziz Abubakar	...	Patient Girl's Father
Merritt Wever	...	Marlee

Storyline

A director (Charlize Theron) of an international aid agency in Africa meets a relief aid doctor (Javier Bardem) amidst a political/social revolution, and together face tough choices surrounding humanitarianism and life through civil unrest.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | three word title | orchestra | paraguay | stationary bike | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody violence including disturbing images of war atrocities, language, and brief sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

The 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.

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Quotes

Wren: There was something unthinking in it. Something blinding in the addition to emergency that we allowed the children to accompany us. That we unquestioningly re-crossed the border. It was not Miguel. I was not myself. But together it was need. And to be needed was everything.

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Soundtracks

Peace Train
Written by Cat Stevens (as Yusuf Islam)
Performed by Cat Stevens

User Reviews

Moving picture full of drama , emotion , romance and touching scenes

This is a thought-provoking and beautifully dramatic film , packing a stirring love story , though slowly paced and paying tribute to the sacrificed doctors working in the African countries . A chief of an international aid agency in Africa called Wren (Charlize Theron) runs the International Council in Geneva , Switzerland , coordinating the international activities common to the operational centres , as well as raising international awareness of potential humanitarian disasters . Then , Wren arrives in Africa and meets a relief aid doctor Miguel Leon (Javier Bardem) who belongs to ¨Médecins Sans Frontières¨ (MSF , vast majority of staff are volunteers) , also known as ¨Doctors Without Borders¨ and both of whom fall in love . The doctor Wren joins a group of obstinate doctors (Adèle Exarchopoulos , Jared Harris , Jean Reno , Denise Newman) who help unfortunate and distressed African people and undergo risked operations to wounded townsfolk . Meanwhile , in Monrovia , Liberia , takes place a state coup , and then they get together to flee from the capital to Sierra Leona . They embark in a dangerous journey which will take various countries risking his own life and pursued by nasty guerrillas .

Intelligent drama with plenty of emotion , moving scenes and sensational performances . This is a deliberately paced flick , a satisfying journey of love , justice and self-discovery amidst political/social revolutions . It displays great feeling , thrills , and provoking melodrama in which a couple takes on strong choices surrounding humanitarianism and tough lives through civil unrest . This brooding flick sometimes results to be slow-moving , relying heavily on the long love affair and both of them compliment each other with their destine to help the unfortunate natives of African countries . Being developed in sensibility and intelligence , here are narrated ethic , moral issues with great sense of ductility and in ¨Terence Malick¨ style . As the stubborn doctors expand accessibility to medical care across national boundaries and irrespective of race , religion , creed or political affiliation . Cast is frankly good and giving top-notch interpretations . As the Spanish Javier Bardem providing an awesome acting , he grants his character a self-righteous drive that is made poignant for her determination and sheer will . Very magnetic performance by Charlize Theron as member of an aid agency directing efforts to provide medical care in acute crises , she gives the right balance of self-righteousness which makes her performance more real , she also creates her character human , heart and determination with her role , not a stereotype . The movie contains thrilling and violent scenes like the breathtaking battle when the military revolutionaries going into the capital Monrovia in blood and fire , as well as rampage , ravage and the indiscriminate massacres carried out by the extremely violent revolutionary guerrillas . And including gory scenes , such as grisly killings in cold blood and an astonishing surgical Cesarian . Beautiful , haunting and mesmerizing cinematography by Barry Ackroyd . Perceptible , and at times rousing musical score by the prestigious composer Hans Zimmer , including some really sensitive songs in African sounds .

The motion picture was professionally -though in complex narrative filled with flashbacks- directed by Sean Penn . Here Penn tells an African story full of death and violence and presents it with impressive truth , though being both , overlong and touching . Sean Penn tops his last directional effort with an intense drama that is moving , scary and down right forthright . This "The Last Face" (2016) will appeal to Javier Bardem and Charlize Theron fans .

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Last Face

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, South Africa

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,161,751

Company Credits

Production Co:

River Road Entertainment, FilmHaven Entertainment, Gerber Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.40 : 1