Mask

A beautiful film based on a true story. Given that it was released just a few years after The Elephant Man,  one may get the impression that it is a moving, yet inspired fiction. However, the phenomenon of The Elephant Man could have at most released the atmosphere in society in this case, so that a similar story could be told from the present day without much surprise. Roy L. Dennis (1961-1978) suffered from craniofacial dysplasia and yet lived a relatively pleasant life. Characters like Beau in Murder House or Jake in Grey's Anatomy also have a similar diagnosis. In reality, he also had a homosexual brother, but that would be too much for an eighties film. So we were left with a beautifully tight drama, with Cher reigning as the mother, Eric Stoltz under the striking mask, and Laura Dern as a gentle blind girl. I postponed my viewing experience a bit, but I don't regret it, despite all the circumstances, as it is an experience that can charge you with positive energy. (02/28/2024)

Mask is not a fundamentally revelatory film, it's not a film that looks at disability in any different way, but Eric Stoltz is delightful in the role, and incredibly easygoing, and so I imagine the real Rocky that way. I was even more blown away by Cher, whom I don't like as an actress all that much, but here she was perfect to a tee. (03/14/2018)