The Man Without a Face (1993)
The American drama film, The Man Without a Face (1993), marks both the directorial debut and starring role of Mel Gibson. Based on the 1972 novel by Isabelle Holland with the same title, the story follows Justin McLeod, a reclusive painter who has been living in solitude for the past seven years due to a car accident that left him disfigured on one side of his face and with chest burns from the ensuing fire. Meanwhile, Chuck Norstadt struggles in his relationship with his gifted sisters and overbearing mother. When Chuck’s frustration leads to an act of vandalism, he encounters McLeod on a ferry where he is both intrigued and intimidated by him. Desperate for academic support after failing a military academy entrance exam, Chuck eventually convinces McLeod to become his tutor when he discovers that McLeod is also a teacher.
Initially perplexed by McLeod’s unconventional methods, he soon forms a strong bond with him. To avoid judgment for associating with a disfigured man whose past remains a mystery, Chuck keeps their daily meetings private. McLeod has always been an enigma to the townspeople, who rarely take the time to truly know him and instead choose to gossip, speculate, and view him with suspicion. Eventually, Mrs. Norstadt discovers her son’s visits to McLeod and the town quickly jumps to unfounded conclusions that McLeod is sexually assaulting Chuck, despite Chuck’s repeated denials. In his own investigation into McLeod’s past, Chuck uncovers details of a car accident that resulted in another boy’s death and understands how this traumatic experience has led McLeod to fear forming new attachments.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Mel GibsonJustin McLeod  Nick StahlCharles E. 'Chuck' Norstadt  Margaret WhittonCatherine Palin  Fay MastersonGloria Norstadt  Gaby HoffmannMegan Norstadt  Geoffrey LewisChief Wayne Stark  Richard MasurProf. Carl Hartley |
The American drama film, The Man Without a Face (1993), marks both the directorial debut and starring role of Mel Gibson. Based on the 1972 novel by Isabelle Holland with the same title, the story follows Justin McLeod, a reclusive painter who has been living in solitude for the past seven years due to a car accident that left him disfigured on one side of his face and with chest burns from the ensuing fire. Meanwhile, Chuck Norstadt struggles in his relationship with his gifted sisters and overbearing mother. When Chuck’s frustration leads to an act of vandalism, he encounters McLeod on a ferry where he is both intrigued and intimidated by him. Desperate for academic support after failing a military academy entrance exam, Chuck eventually convinces McLeod to become his tutor when he discovers that McLeod is also a teacher.
Initially perplexed by McLeod’s unconventional methods, he soon forms a strong bond with him. To avoid judgment for associating with a disfigured man whose past remains a mystery, Chuck keeps their daily meetings private. McLeod has always been an enigma to the townspeople, who rarely take the time to truly know him and instead choose to gossip, speculate, and view him with suspicion. Eventually, Mrs. Norstadt discovers her son’s visits to McLeod and the town quickly jumps to unfounded conclusions that McLeod is sexually assaulting Chuck, despite Chuck’s repeated denials. In his own investigation into McLeod’s past, Chuck uncovers details of a car accident that resulted in another boy’s death and understands how this traumatic experience has led McLeod to fear forming new attachments.
