August 8, 3:00PMFinsbury Park Picturehouse
dir. Conan Le Ciliaire
USA, 1978, 109 mins
August 9, 9:00PM
Genesis Cinema
What question has plagued mankind more than the mystery—and terror—of death? This forbidden pursuit has driven Dr. Frances B. Gröss to the brink of madness, but in his obsession, he has amassed a uniquely comprehensive collection of films that depict life in its final, gruelling moments. From the savagery of cold-blooded murder to the perverse realities of war, tragic accidents, and the everyday lives of those who collect, dissect, and bury the dead, this descent into morbidity lays bare a truth that all of us will one day face.
The original viral video; Faces of Death transcends time and format, borne of analogue home entertainment media and predating the phenomenon of Liveleak, Worldstarhiphop & rotten.com. Its pervasiveness as an idea, only whispered of in hushed tones in the backs of video stores and amongst elder brothers’ sketchy friends, is what draws TFFF to screening it; more than just a shock-documentary, it’s a cursed object. Now restored in 4K and premiering on the big screen, Faces of Death can be scrutinised in the same clinical manner that the film itself leaps at the chance to exploit death and tragedy. Will this be a chance to finally exorcise this title’s power over audiences by dragging it into the light or are we only spreading the reality virus further?
This World Premiere will be preceded by a recorded intro from Daniel Goldhaber.
- Kit Ramsay
starring —
