The Man Without a Face

The Man Without a Face is a 1993 American drama film starring and directed by Mel Gibson, in his feature film directorial debut. The film is based on Isabelle Holland's 1972 novel of the same name. Gibson's direction received positive reviews from most critics.

In 1968, Justin McLeod has been living an isolated existence as a painter for seven years, after a car accident that disfigured his face.

Chuck Norstadt is a young boy who endures a contentious relationship with his academically brilliant sisters and their mother. One day, Chuck meets McLeod on a ferry when McLeod witnesses Chuck in an act of vandalism. Chuck needs a tutor to help him pass a military academy's entrance exam that he had failed earlier. Upon discovering that McLeod is a teacher, Chuck persuades him to become his tutor. While he is initially baffled by McLeod's unorthodox methods, the two eventually develop a close friendship.

Chuck keeps his daily meetings with McLeod a secret to avoid being scorned for associating with a disfigured man whose past is shrouded in mystery. Ultimately, Mrs. Norstadt learns that her son has been visiting McLeod. She and the rest of the town convince themselves that McLeod is sexually molesting Chuck, despite Chuck's denials. Chuck researches McLeod's car accident, which involved the death of another boy, thus causing McLeod's fear of another attachment.

Chuck confronts McLeod and learns that the youth who was killed in the car crash was his student. Consequently, McLeod was unjustly branded a pedophile, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and served three years in prison. Once his relationship with Chuck is openly known, McLeod is run out of town and ordered by the authorities not to have any contact with Chuck, who enters the military academy.

At mail call, he is given back the letters he had sent to McLeod, which were marked undeliverable. Chuck returns to McLeod's house only to find it empty except for a painting he had done of Chuck that summer and a letter explaining that McLeod has moved on. He wishes the best for Chuck in his academic goals, also thanking him for the gift of grace he'd been given. Afterwards, Chuck is shown graduating from the military academy as his family looks on. He sees a familiar figure in the distance and recognizes it as his "faceless" tutor. They silently greet each other.

The Man Without a Face was released on August 25, 1993, in 865 theatres. It ranked fourth at the US box office, making $4.0 million in its opening weekend. In its second weekend, it opened in 1,065 theatres, grossed $5.4 million and ranked second. After five weeks in theatres, the film went on to gross $24.7 million. Internationally, it grossed $11.9 million for a worldwide total of $36.6 million.

The Man Without a Face holds a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 25 reviews with an average rating of 5.9/10. On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.