Director Leni Huyghe’s “Real Faces” offers a refreshing, female-driven take on the very relatable moment of staring down the crossroads of your life. It’s a twentysomething coming-of-age story about forging your own path, but also one of human connection in today’s modern world.
Conflicted and ambitious, Julia (Leonie Buysse) is struggling to balance her life and career as a casting director. Navigating the pressures of the advertising world and trying to live up to the ideals in the very images she sells, the young woman is constantly struggling with defining her own identity.
This smartly-conceived story and social commentary leans into its melancholy, but Huyghe’s dry sense of humor lightens the mood when the film needs it most. Buysse is terrific as Julia, bringing nuances to her character that make her an appealing yet unconventional protagonist prone to questionable decisions. Julia’s evolving dynamic with the reserved microbiologist Eliott (Gorges Ocloo) adds contrast to her story arc, showcasing how two vastly different worlds can collide in unexpected ways.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its self-awareness. While the narrative occasionally treads repetitive ground, it actually works in favor of its thematic exploration and the idea how cycles of expectation, ambition, and self-sabotage often trap people in their own constructed identities.
“Real Faces” cleverly critiques the very industry it portrays, exposing the artificiality of idealized images while showing how even those behind the scenes struggle with them. Huyghe has a distinct voice and vision, delivering a film with an empowering message about self-acceptance and human connection.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 