Much like its lead character, there is a plethora of disquieting unrest boiling beneath the surface of “A Different Man,” writer / director Aaron Schimberg’s haunting exploration of identity, disability, and the value society places on the idea of beauty. The unsettling atmosphere and deliberate pacing work in tandem to create a film that’s as haunting as it is profound.
Struggling actor Edward Lemuel (Sebastian Stan) has been living with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form throughout the body and on the skin. After he begins a relationship with his theater director neighbor Ingrid (Renate Reinsve), Edward grows increasingly unhappy with his disfigured appearance and undergoes a radical medical transformation that promises to make him what society deems “handsome.” It goes off without a hitch, except that Edward’s new face (and reinvented identity as a conceited jerk named Guy Moratz) lead him down a dark and obsessive path that eventually leads to tragedy.
It’s a fascinating vehicle for exploring big themes of self-worth, disability, and how society ties value to beauty, and Schimberg executes a familiar story in a new and different way. The narrative poses difficult questions about isolation and social status, especially when it comes to a person’s outward appearance.
Edward’s transformation certainly alters his physicality, but the film examines whether such a drastic change can truly liberate someone if they are still trapped by their inner turmoil. It’s chilling when Edward perpetuates the claim that his former self has committed suicide, which in itself is a chilling metaphor for the lengths people go to escape their perceived flaws while embracing a new version of themselves.
Isolation is a major theme in the narrative, and it’s distressing to watch Edward’s loneliness, sadness, and painful metamorphosis. On the flip side, there’s also a deep kindness at the core of the story that contrasts with his growing internalized anguish and desire to reclaim his lost sense of self. His early interactions with Ingrid are nothing short of lovely, which makes it all the more heartbreaking to see him throw away all the positives in his life.
Provocative and deeply poignant, “A Different Man” is a film about the masks we wear and the insecurities that can fester beneath the surface. It doesn’t offer easy answers, but it’s one that will stick with me for a while.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 