Film Fest Review: A Different Man

Illustration by Tate Stephan.

The desire to start anew is a familiar feeling for many people. To wake up one day and find a new face staring back at you. A fresh start. In Aaron Shchimbergs “A Different Man” starring Sebastian Stan— who attended the screening of the film at this year’s SCAD Savannah Film Festival— this becomes a reality for the main character Edward Lemuel.

“A Different Man” is artistically impressive, with a story that I can only say fits A24’s reputation of producing unconventional films with bold yet important statements and themes. Tackling concepts such as identity, societal perceptions, isolation, and jealousy, as we are taken through Edward’s life with (and eventually without) neurofibromatosis, a condition which causes increased growth of tumors in the nervous system.

Beginning with the visuals, this film completely embraces the 70’s New York aesthetic it’s set in. From set design to costumes to color grading, the artistic aspects harmoniously accentuate the spirit of the era. At times, these aspects are even used to advance the story. My favorite example is the changing hairstyle of the female lead, Ingrid Vold (played by Renate Reinsve). Hair holds a lot of importance to many people. In Ingrid’s case, not only does her hair change to communicate change in time, but also in her character. Small details like these are what really makes the film more immersive.

Speaking of immersive, this film has impressive usage of special effects for the various bloody and facial morphing scenes. At least, what I saw was impressive, since after a few seconds of witnessing them I found myself squeamishly staring down at the dark Trustees floor. I’m not one to be too grossed out by blood, but in combination with the overly convincing painful wails of Sebastian Stan, it felt all too real.

Lastly from the artistic standpoint is the cinematography. Shot on film (in a mere 22 days might I add), the style and framing feels just as artsy as the Brooklyn actors this film follows. At times, it feels like the framing is pushing towards a Wes Anderson influence, with no fear of wide or far shots and evident care towards the entirety of what is ending up in the shot. The camera work is used wonderfully to enhance the story and even small bits of humor, such as purposefully panning to cut and reveal things from the frame.

Onto the story, which, to be quite honest, I’m still stuck on. This film has an extremely interesting central plot, surrounding a man who lived his life feeling ostracized due to his disability suddenly gaining a new chance to live without it, only to once again fall into despair due to its lasting impact. Towards the end of the film, it evolves to become less and less predictable as the main character finds himself in more difficult situations, all while his resentment and envy steadily pile up. Eventually, it gets to a point where every shot is its own surprise.

The film manages to make almost every character unlikeable and problematic in their own ways. With Ingrid Vold and her performative-esque acts of kindness for Edward, profiting off of and borderline romanticizing his hardships while simultaneously demonstrating little actual care for him even after his death. As well as Oswald, the foil to Edward who, despite bearing the same neurofibromatosis, leads an idealized and outgoing, confident, and fruitful life that Edward envies. Oswald, who can be perceived as selfish at times (similarly to Ingrid), is instead more a force of antagonism due to our viewing the story from Edward’s point of view. While it should be refreshing to see a character succeeding despite his hardships, it is almost bitter, after spending an hour watching Edward try and try again to similarly overcome his shared struggles only to end up doing so by painstakingly changing himself entirely.

In a broader sense, this film opens up a not-so-commonly discussed conversation regarding the struggles of people with similar disabilities, as well as judgements based on appearances, selfishness, and repulsion. While many people may not be able to relate directly to the events of the film, which can get at times unusual, the film’s success in bringing the audience into the character’s shoes makes it all the more relatable.

Going into this film, I was not sure what to expect. But honestly, I don’t think anything could have prepared me. This is a film that needs to be embraced in its entirety, and then some. A film where your analysis and opinions are flashing through your mind as the events play out one after a surprising other on the screen. Overall, I enjoyed this film and its exploration of such undiscussed issues, as well as the appealing and enticing visuals that accompanied it.