“The eye of the camera always manages to express the interior of a character,” according to the late filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini.

The latest video essay (above) by Daniel Mcilwraith at Fandor meditates on Pasolini’s use of the close-up to capture the interior of his characters.

“Pasolini’s faces are often confrontational, breaking the barrier between screen and spectator. There is something unnerving, yet often playful, about making eye contact with those on screen,” writes Mcilwraith.

What do you see when you look into the eyes of his characters? Check out the video essay above and draw your own conclusions.