Mel Gibson's first directorial effort is an unusual success, hinting that the wonderful Braveheart would soon follow. The Man Without a Face is a compelling story of a kid who runs across the town's outcast, a man with ugly burn marks on one side of his face. One by one, preconceptions are shattered and secrets of the past are exposed as the two develop a strong friendship. But there's a tragic undercurrent lurking in the background, and one never gets the sense of security that justice will be served, at least not without considerable undue pain. The themes here are not new, nor are they particularly subtle in presentation. But the story is remarkably moving.