“During the filming and editing of this documentary, I endeavoured to find the emotion, impact and impulse which are mediated by vision.... It took us more than six months to get together the eighty isolated scenes intended for this film. After that we spent a further several weeks composing the shots until we had the definitive structure of the film. Face Value is a film combining a conscious approach with spontaneity, and contemplation with action. It presents us with the differing views set within the region we call “Europe”, an imaginary Europe located somewhere between London, Marseilles, Prague and the Netherlands.” According to Johan van der Keuken, his film treats vision, photography and portraits, not only of faces but also spaces, words and languages. Within this defined territory known as Europe, an intricate battle is being waged to find true identity.
