Joseph V. Lingad was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, and struggled with his appearance for most of his life. He wanted to make a film that follows four adults to highlight how their facial differences affect various aspects of their lives — such as friendships, romantic relationships, and careers. Joseph thought he could address his issues and trauma of being born with a facial difference by telling the four adults’ stories without revealing too much of his journey, because he wasn’t ready to share his pain and insecurities with the public.
However, over the course of eight years of filming the four adults and becoming a father, the film tells how they and his newborn son Miles have helped him come to terms with his facial difference, enabling him to reflect on and explore why it took him over 40 years to look at himself in the mirror without cringing.
Through Jane, Corey, Christine, Karen, and Joseph, the documentary highlights the issues of living with facial differences: the physical and emotional toll from having numerous surgeries, staring, and being disregarded and rejected by society. The film also shows their coping mechanisms and resiliency in the face of hostility for looking different. The film also emphasizes that the key to healing physical and emotional scars lies in connecting with the personin the mirror.
As the film navigates the lives of the four adults, the documentary illustrates how their stories and the birth of Joseph’s son shape his relationship with his facial difference, helping him forge a path toward self-acceptance.
