By Amarachukwu Iwuala
Producer/Director: Faruk Lasaki
Cast: Marc Baylis, Rachel Young, Alex Lopez, Keppy Ekpenyong, Ayo Mogaji, Jibola Dabo, Femi Brainard, Jude Orhorha and Victor Eze
In 2008, according to Olumide Iyanda (writing in Saturday Independent) Changing Faces screened at Pavillion du Sud, a French pavilion, during the Cannes Film Festival while Faruk Lasaki sold the rights for the making of his film to two European companies for two years at ninety million naira only (N90 million). The companies, which bought the 23-minute overview of the film, are TV5 of France and Baveria of Germany. It is noteworthy that the interests of the companies were piqued by the sex scenes in the movie.
Coquettish Lola, a correspondent with Inquest magazine, attends an architectural conference and schemes to have a fling with Dale, the whizkid of Architecture. She tricks Dale into her room one night, crying and pretending to be bereaved. After a sexual encounter, Dale becomes promiscuous like Lola while Lola starts exercising restraint in sexual matters like Dale.
A metaphysical tale about the exchange of spirits, following sexual intercourse, Changing Faces employs pictures over words in telling its story. Yinka Ogun’s screenplay contains some interesting dialogue. For instance, ‘Excuse her dressing or the lack of it’.
‘… shocking people with your dressing or undressing’.
Though Dale was successful, professionally, he seemed to be a maladjusted man, who allowed Lola to manipulate him; telling him he is chauvinistic and condescending (which were false claims). Yet, he was not quick to point out the derogatory remarks Lola actually made about the men folk. Dale’s search for a spiritual solution to his problem was indicative of a troubled individual, who would go to unimaginable lengths to become a responsible man once again.
The subtitle in a few cases had errors ‘godess of water’ and ‘I search … but finds it not’.
A good film by many standards, Changing Faces is highly recommended. One is only wondering why Lasaki has not followed it up with another interesting movie.
