Aspiring actor Edward (Sebastian Stan) undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost, in filmmaker Aaron Schimberg’s darkly funny New York noir.

The Garden Cinema View:

This month we are screening two films that explore the self-destructive pursuit of beauty and challenge societal notions of perfection and authenticity. Both Coralie Fargeat’s body horror, The Substance, and Aaron Schimberg’s A Different Man are boldly conceived, cautionary tales of flying too close to the sun. The latter is part psychological thriller, part biting satire, part absurdist morality tale. It expertly blends dark humour with a surreal atmosphere that constantly challenges the viewers’ perceptions and expectations.

Whilst it’s best to not read too much about the plot, the film is steered by three fantastic performances. Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice) takes centre stage as the anxiety-riddled Edward, a struggling actor with neurofibromatosis; a condition that causes facial tumours that severely distort his features. Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World) makes her English language debut as Edward’s neighbour Ingrid, an aspiring playwright and the object of his affection. But it’s the British actor Adam Pearson (Under The Skin), who has neurofibromatosis in real life, that gives a career-best performance as the witty, exuberantly charming Oswald. His unexpected appearance sends the film into a riveting and farcical new direction, leading many critics to compare A Different Man to the films of Charlie Kaufman.

While the pacing is uneven at times, and the last act feels muddled, it has an emotional intensity and depth that invites audiences to reflect on the human condition and the masks we wear in society.

Cast:
Sebastian Stan, Adam Pearson, Renate Reinsve