Ash Wednesday

Barbara Sawyer, a woman in her late 40s, feels her life is falling apart as her husband, Mark, begins an affair with her younger sister. Desperate to hold onto her marriage and youth, Barbara undergoes extensive plastic surgery. The surgery transforms her appearance but leaves her feeling alienated from herself and those around her, ultimately leading to tragic consequences as she grapples with her altered identity and the unraveling of her family.

Ash Wednesday received a mixed reception from critics, with some praising Elizabeth Taylor's performance and the film's exploration of themes like aging and identity, while others found the plot melodramatic and the execution heavy-handed. It is often remembered more for its star power and its reflection of societal anxieties surrounding beauty and aging in the early 70s.

• Elizabeth Taylor delivers a notable performance as a woman desperate to maintain her youth.

• The film tackles themes of aging, identity, and the pursuit of superficial beauty with a dramatic flair.

• Some critics found the plot to be overly melodramatic and the pacing uneven.

Google audience: Audience sentiment for Ash Wednesday is generally lukewarm, with many acknowledging Elizabeth Taylor's commitment to her role but often finding the film's narrative to be dated and overly dramatic. The themes of aging and plastic surgery, while relevant, are not always explored with the nuance audiences appreciate.

None notable.

The film's prominent use of plastic surgery as a plot device reflected a growing societal interest and concern surrounding cosmetic procedures during the early 1970s.