Movie "A Different Man" | Appearance and Inner Self. Which one shapes a person?

4 stars
★★★★☆

Spoiler-free review

The story follows Edward, a protagonist suffering from neurofibromatosis which causes tumors to grow on his face, who obtains a tumor-free face through a certain treatment.
He begins a new life as a different person with a new appearance, but...

I watched it without much prior information, and that actually worked out for the better.
While it centers on the theme of "appearance," it shares some common ground with "The Substance" in how it questions the essence of humanity.
However, this is not a horror movie, so there are no grotesque depictions, and I think it is easy to watch even for those who are not fans of the genre.

Review with spoilers

The acting of the cast shines

Edward, who is introverted and kind, and Guy (=Edward), who is wealthy and confident. And then there is Guy? Edward? whose mental state collapses due to jealousy toward Oswald. Sebastian Stan's delicate performance was excellent.

Renate Reinsve, who plays Ingrid, is also an actress I love. She is the one who became famous for "The Worst Person in the World." She is natural, nonchalant, yet feels very human. The balance is exquisite.

Even if your appearance changes, life doesn't change the way you expect it to—

When Edward had his condition, he lived introverted and like a shadow. However, after removing the tumors on his face and making a fresh start as a different person named "Guy," he succeeds in a real estate company and gains a wealthy life. Furthermore, he enters into a romantic relationship with his neighbor, Ingrid. But that happiness does not last long.

The appearance of Oswald

The appearance of Oswald, a man who has the same condition but is bright and sociable. Guy (=Edward) suffers from jealousy toward him, and Edward's mind begins to crumble.
In the midst of this, the scene where he impulsively stabs a person who showed disgust toward Oswald was symbolic. I think it's because he is so assimilated with Oswald that his self-loathing became mixed up with it.

The ideal he should have gained by throwing away his "face."
But even if your appearance changes, you cannot escape from your true self—it was a movie that left a quiet sense of sadness and emptiness in my heart.