John Cleese, of Monty Python fame, narrates and stars in The Human Face, a four-part documentary produced by the BBC. Alongside actress and model Elizabeth Hurley, the show examines the importance of the human face in every aspect of life. Cleese's humor is ever-present, bringing laughs alongside the information, making this one of the wittiest documentaries ever made.
John Cleese and Elizbeth Huxley
Cleese and Huxley spend most of the series bickering and harassing one another, but the interplay never grows dull. Huxley continuously finds ways of getting back at Cleese's mean spirited comments. While not present in every short, she contributes her more-than-pretty face to the mix, and the main target for John Cleese's verbal attacks.
One of the best moments is Cleese, shrunk down so that he may stand on Huxley's face to point out parts of the face, argues that while her face is a lovely one, "It doesn't mean that she isn't a total sh*t." Huxley, in response, picks Cleese off her face, crushes him between her fingers, and flings him across the room, smiling malevolently as she does so.
Science of the Human Face
The series shines not only because of its host but because of the science behind it. The series holds interviews with people like David Attenborough, the voice behind many animal documentaries, and Dr. Vilayanur Ramachandran, whose research has uncovered information deeply related to the subject of the human face. These experts offer insightful commentary alongside the antics of Cleese and Huxley.
The Human Face focuses on several theories concerning beauty and the human face, and points out where the scientists and experts don't hold consensus. Both Cleese and Huxley throw in their opinions about some of the ideas presented, and offer counterpoints to the theories, bringing real depth into the show.
How Humans See Faces
Perceptions of the human face are as important as the structure of the face itself. Looking at the ideas of beauty and fame, The Human Face explores the good and bad sides of beauty. By being exposed to billboards and ads, we are bombarded by beauty, and thus underestimate its rarity, leading more people to be unhappy with their partners, as well as personal appearance.
The idea of beauty is often rather vague, but research has shown that there are some scientific elements. For example, the ration of 1 to 1.618, also called "the golden ratio," appears again and again in a beautiful human face. For instance, the width of the nose to the width of the mouth in a beautiful face is around 1 : 1.618. This ratio works for many features of the human face.
The documentary also explores the importance of face recognition, showing how difficult life can be when that crucial brain function is cut. Psychological disorders such as the Capgras delusion, a neurological disorder in which a person believes a double has taken the place of their close loved ones. The disorder occurs because the connection between face recognition and the emotion center of the brain is cut, so a familiar face produces no emotional response.
The Human Face is a brilliant documentary from beginning to end. Rarely does a documentary provide so much delight and humor with so much information, and John Cleese manages to be both the comedian and the teacher, blending humor and intellect as always. This documentary is likely to remain a classic of the genre. Just like a beautiful face, this series is worth more than a glance.
Sources
The Human Face
Wikipedia.org
Frank Yeats - Frank Yeats is a graduate of West Texas A&M University with a degree in English. He writes plays, short stories and poetry. His long-term ...
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