The Mask (1985)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The mask |
| Original title | Mask |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1985 |
| length | 115 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Peter Bogdanovich |
| script | Anna Hamilton Phelan |
| production |
Martin Starger , George Morfogen |
| music | Dennis ricotta |
| camera | László Kovács |
| cut | Barbara Ford |
| occupation | |
| |
The mask (Original title: Mask ) is an American drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich from 1985 .
action
Roy L. "Rocky" Dennis suffers from craniodiaphyseal dysplasia . His facial bones grow uncontrollably, so that the facial proportions are severely deformed. Rocky's father left him and his mother. Rocky's mother Florence "Rusty" takes care of him and makes sure that he is accepted by the headmaster in high school and does not go to a special school. The members of a rocker gang are the best friends of the family and they ride their Harleys on all kinds of dates. They meet very often and the gang protects Rocky. One of his best friends is one of the boys “Dozer” who stutters a lot and therefore hardly speaks.
After an investigation, it is learned that Rocky is still given a life expectancy of six months. However, the mother explains that her son has already crossed such a limit several times and that neither blindness nor deafness occurred and that Rocky is not mentally retarded either . Rocky and his best friend Ben have the big dream of taking a trip to Europe and are passionate about collecting baseball cards.
The first day of the new high school shows how intelligent Rocky is. However, there are also some mean sayings from other classmates. With his casual sayings and his intelligence, he gains recognition in his class. Rusty leads a dissolute life with light drugs and changing sexual partners and gets on Rocky increasingly on nerves because he is worried about his mother. After a violent argument, Rocky gets a severe headache that keeps popping up, his mother comes to him and they fantasize together, as they always do when he is in pain. Gar, an old friend of Rusty's, is coming back. After initial difficulties, the two get together again and he moves in with Rusty and Rocky. He also wants to stop Rusty from taking drugs any more.
The headmaster suggests a summer camp for Rocky that is specially arranged for blind children and teenagers. He should work there as an assistant and would not have to pay anything. Rocky refuses at first because he doesn't want to leave his mother alone, but then promises to think twice. Rocky begins to show interest in girls and tells his mother that. She doesn't know what to do other than pay a prostitute and bring her to Rocky. The two end up in a bed, but they only talk and Rocky gives her some wisdom.
Rocky doesn't want to go to his year-end party at first because he's got nothing to wear. But his rocker friends and his mother have merged and bought a suit. Rocky is even recognized by the school principal for his excellent academic performance. Rusty's parents come to visit, and although the relationship is tense, the grandparents bring gifts and are very welcoming. They go to a baseball game with their grandson, which Rocky is very happy about. When they get home, his mother is high again and Rocky decides to go to summer camp.
As soon as he arrives, Rocky sees the blind girl Diana and falls in love with her. Later he sees her with a horse and he speaks to her, so Rocky and Diana start a conversation. Rusty misses her son very much and needs Gar's help to write him a letter. Rocky and Diana ride out together and talk lively. They come closer. There is a kiss during a New Year celebration. They say goodbye at the end of the camp, promising to make a phone call.
His mother, Gar, and a couple of friends pick up Rocky. His mother reveals to him that she has been clean for a long time. Diana's parents cut off contact with Rocky. Ben explains to Rocky that he is moving back to his father to work, so he cancels her trip to Europe. Rocky is angry and hurt and throws his friend out. Then he calls Diana, but again only her mother answers and shakes him off. Rocky takes all his money and visits Diana, who has never heard of his calls. She admits that she will soon be going to another school, which means that she will live further away. They promise to keep in touch and live together later.
Rocky has a severe headache during an evening out with his rocker friends. At his mother's insistence, he leaves the others and goes to bed. Rocky says goodbye to his dream of coming to Europe. Later his mother comes and covers him up, he quietly confesses that he is in severe pain. She gently kisses his forehead and covers him. The next day the school calls and explains to Rusty that Rocky is not there. She goes into his room, suppresses a tear and does not want to admit his passing. She pulls up the blinds and talks to Rocky. Then she sits down next to him, leans over him and begins to cry. Rusty ravages her kitchen in a crying fit and then goes back to Rocky.
Rusty, Gar and Dozer visit Rocky's grave, he is 16 years old. And Rusty reminisces about Rocky.
Reviews
Roger Ebert wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times of 22 March 1985, the films would not frequent viewers so quickly " take " ( " grave ") like this. The " most extraordinary " character is not " Rocky ", but " Rusty ", who is portrayed by Cher as a complicated, energetic woman. The mask is a “ wonderful ” film, a story about “ cheerfulness, hope and courage ”.
The lexicon of international films wrote that the film leads to “ emotionally strong sympathy ”, but “ hardly to deeper insight ” due to its “ clichés ”.
Awards
The film won an Oscar for Best Makeup in 1986 . Michael Westmore was nominated for the BAFTA Award in 1986 for Best Make-up . Cher and Eric Stoltz were nominated for the Golden Globe Award in 1986.
Cher won the Actor Award at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival ; Peter Bogdanovich was nominated for the Palme d' Or. Anna Hamilton Phelan was nominated for the 1986 Writers Guild of America Award . Jackie Burch in 1986 for the price Artios the Casting Society of America nominated.
background
The plot of the film is based on the actual life of Roy Lee Dennis (* December 4, 1961, † October 4, 1978). The poem read by Eric Stoltz as "Rocky" in the film is by the real Roy Lee Dennis.
The film was shot in the California cities of Los Angeles , Azusa and Monrovia . It grossed approximately $ 42.4 million in US cinemas .
Individual evidence
- ^ Review by Roger Ebert
- ↑ The mask. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ Filming locations for Mask
- ↑ Box office / business for Mask
Web links
- The mask in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The mask at rotten tomatoes (English)