In the final act ("Suicide, Confrontation and Silent Breakdown"): Maria's suicide attempt triggers a harsh revival, followed by Richard's arrival, Chet's escape, and the couple's final emotional detachment.

Faces (1968) — AI Story Visualization

Name: Faces
Genre: drama
Released: 1968
Rating: 7.1

Plot Analysis Summary

A raw exploration of marital breakdown, transactional intimacy, and generational alienation in 1960s New York.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Corporate Facades and Bar Encounters

Marital Collapse and Jealous Rivals

Generational Shifts and Midnight Intimacy

Suicide, Confrontation and Silent Breakdown

Middle-aged suburban husband Richard abruptly tells his wife, Maria, that he wants a divorce. As Richard takes up with a younger woman, Maria enjoys a night on the town with her friends and meets a younger man. As the couple and those around them confront a seemingly futile search for what they've lost -- love, excitement, passion -- this classic American independent film explores themes of aging and alienation.

Directed by

John Cassavetes

Key Cast

John Marley — Richard Forst
Gena Rowlands — Jeannie Rapp
Lynn Carlin — Maria Forst
Fred Draper — Freddie Draper
Seymour Cassel — Chet

Rating: 7.1/10 (221 votes)