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World Cinema Series - Eyes Without a Face

  • Strand Theatre 210 Main Street Hudson Falls, NY, 12839 (map)

Eyes Without a Face (French: Les Yeux sans visage) is a 1960 horror film directed by Georges Franju and starring Pierre Brasseur, Alida Valli, Juliette Mayniel, and Édith Scob. Based on a novel of the same name by French author Jean Redon [fr], it revolves around a plastic surgeon who is determined to perform a face transplant on his daughter, who was disfigured in a car crash.

An international co-production between France's Champs-Élysées Productions and Italy's Lux Film, Eyes Without a Face was shot in Paris and the surrounding suburbs, and at Boulogne Studios. During the film's production, consideration was given to the standards of European censors by minimizing gore. Although Eyes Without a Face was cleared by censors, its release in Europe caused controversy. Critical reaction ranged from praise to disgust.

The film's initial critical reception was not overtly positive, but subsequent theatrical and home video re-releases improved its reputation. Modern critics praise Eyes Without a Face for its poetic approach to the horror genre, as well as for being an influence on other filmmakers. It is widely-recognized as one of the greatest and most influential horror films of all time.

Earlier Event: October 21
Halloween Movie Night Double Feature
Later Event: October 23
Broken Clover