In a year teeming with cinematic achievements, Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” emerged as a formidable contender, challenging the norms with its harrowing narrative and aesthetic audacity. Not only has the film garnered critical acclaim and several Oscar nods, including Best Picture, but it has also sparked a broader conversation about the portrayal of women in Hollywood.
Breaking New Ground and Facing Backlash
At the heart of “The Substance” is the haunting portrayal by Demi Moore, whose character, Elisabeth Sparkle, grapples with the harsh realities of aging in an industry obsessed with youth and beauty. The film cleverly uses the horror genre to critique these standards, depicting a terrifying yet mesmerizing process where Moore’s character uses a drug to manifest a younger double, played by Margaret Qualley. This narrative serves as a poignant metaphor for extreme measures like Botox and plastic surgery, which are often seen as panaceas for maintaining a youthful appearance in the limelight.
Despite its success, Fargeat’s journey with “The Substance” was fraught with challenges, particularly from the studios. A scene that has now become infamous—where Dennis Quaid’s character nonchalantly eats shrimp—unexpectedly became a focal point of contention. Fargeat recalls the unexpected feedback from studio executives: “From all the things in the movie that I thought could bother people, the one that I could have never imagined was the shrimp. It came only from guys, I might say. Like, ‘Come on, calm down with the shrimp.’ And I think it made them uncomfortable because it was portrayed in a way that felt over the top.” This critique highlights the often-surprising elements of filmmaking that resonate with audiences and gatekeepers in unforeseen ways.
Additionally, the film lost its initial distributor, a setback that came after a tense test screening attended by studio executives. Fargeat shared, “One of the guys hated it, he demanded that we redo the whole edit, and as that was not possible, he made sure that Universal dropped the film…During this screening, the woman was obviously the only one who did not have the right to speak, while she told me afterward that she wanted to defend the project. That says a lot about where the power still lies in Hollywood.” This incident underscores the ongoing struggles with gender dynamics within the industry.
A Critical Darling with a Complicated Production
Despite these hurdles, “The Substance” found a new home with Mubi and has since been celebrated for its innovative script and direction, earning Coralie Fargeat the Best Screenplay award at Cannes. The film’s resonance with critics and audiences alike underscores the changing tides in the entertainment industry, as more diverse and challenging stories find their way to the forefront.
“The Substance” is not just a film but a statement on the rigors and demands placed on women in Hollywood and beyond. It challenges viewers to reflect on their own perceptions of beauty and the lengths to which one might go to preserve it. As the awards season approaches, the film continues to be a topic of discussion, not only for its artistic merits but also for the conversations it has ignited about age, appearance, and the often invisible pressures exerted by the entertainment industry.