The Face of Another (1966)

An engineer whose face was extremely disfigured in an industrial accident is despondent until a doctor advises an experimental facial prosthetic. The doctor suggests that the mask will change the engineer’s personality and revels in the experiences that seem to imply it has. On the surface, this is a more straightforward tale for Teshihagara, but interwoven is a more ambiguous tale of a woman who also has facial scars though to a lesser extent. Additionally there are other surreal elements, particularly in the sparse doctor’s office with its unusual decor and physics-bending backgrounds. The film proposes a number of theories with regards to identity and personality. I’m not sure I agree with much of it, but they are intriguing arguments regardless.