A Benchmark for Australian Drama
With a shooting schedule of only twelve days, Face To Face is Australian drama at its purest form. Winning (as of May 2013) over 40 international awards, Face To Face is the end result of combining the talented director Michael Rymer (Angel Baby, American Horror Story, Hannibal, Battlestar Gallactica), with David Williamson (Writer), Dennys Illic (Cinematographer) and Sasha Dylan Bell (Editor).
Based on the play by David Williamson, Face To Face is about lies, betrayal, sex and bullying in the workplace. A young construction worker rams into the back of his boss’s Jaguar in a fit of anger after he was sacked. Rather than fronting the court, he is given the chance to explain his actions at a community conference. The film was shot entirely on a Canon 1D Mk. IV and 7D DSLRs, and is the first feature film with a wide release to do so. This versatile filming structure allowed cinematographer, Dennys Illic, a lot more freedom in terms of the technical aspects.
With a stellar ensemble cast led by Vince Colosimo (Chopper), Sigrid Thornton (The Man From Snowy River) and Luke Ford (Kokoda, Animal Kingdom), Face To Face is where 10 very dissimilar Australians are bound together by a complex pattern of relationships and shared histories.
Face to Face is that rare film which grabs a hold of you at the beginning and doesn’t let go till the end. It is an amazing piece of cinema – riveting, thought-provoking, transformative. Only once or twice a year do I see such a film – and this year that film is Face to Face.” – Michael Moore
The film also stars Matthew Newton, Robert Rabiah, Christopher Connelly, Ra Chapman, Josh Saks, Lauren Clair, Laura Gordon and Richard Sutherland.
You can view our interview with cinematographer Dennys Illic here.