PORTUGAL
THE FACE YOU DESERVE [A cara que mereces]

Miguel Gomes' first feature focuses on Francisco, a sullen children's entertainer whose 30th birthday consists of a series of arguments, accidents and unexpected musical numbers. Suddenly, his life--and the film--takes a drastic change when he finds himself sequestered in a forest cottage with an obscure band of game-playing, rule-obsessed men. Is Francisco's plight a form of purgatory, an opportunity for redemption, or something else entirely? A deadpan musical comedy with an infectious sense of play and possibility, this film is the type of debut that doesn't come along very often: entertaining, accomplished and truly original.

DIR/SCR/PROD Miguel Gomes. Portugal, 2004, color, 108 min. In Portuguese with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Wed, Sep 29, 6:30