Let's Face It: Women Explore Their Aging Faces

When my friend Alex entered menopause at 52, she threw a party to celebrate becoming a “crone”--the third stage of development in the life of a woman after maiden and mother. Although she relished growing older, and loved to see the changes in her face, most women don't feel nearly as secure with their aging bodies. Let's Face It visits a group of seven friends in their late 40s, 50s, and 60s who discuss how they see each other and how they come face to face with their own image on videotape. Growing up in a culture that worships youth, in which women are constantly bombarded with marketing that promises to make them look and stay younger, it's no wonder many women dislike the face they see in the mirror. It's hard to feel positive when society encourages negative notions about aging in women (how many times have you heard that “women get wrinkles; men get character lines”?). A very engaging film that boldly raises provocative questions (why can women stay at home all day without makeup, but feel pressured to “put on our face” before walking out the door? Why are facelifts considered the norm when aging is natural?) about a sensitive subject, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Asala)