The second film by Frenchwoman Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”, receives the screenplay prize at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. A nice price but which in no way reflects the creativity of the film and the passionate interpretation of its actress, Demi Moore.
For her second film and her first time in competition at Cannes, Frenchwoman Coralie Fargeat received the screenplay prize from the jury chaired by Greta Gerwig. A great reward for this filmmaker who turns the heads of festival-goers with her hallucinatory trip, The Substance. However, we had the right to hope for much better as this feature film, on the injunctions made to women’s bodies, amazed us.
The story follows Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a Hollywood star who is constantly pushed back to her image in an industry that spares nothing for actresses. To free herself from this violence, Elizabeth subscribes to an experience: The Substance. With a simple injection, she has the possibility of seeing the birth of a better version of herself – younger, more beautiful, stronger – (Margaret Qualley) on the condition of returning every seven days to her old body.
An inspired staging
This body horror feminist, who knows no limits, sticks to a clever concept and saves words to focus on the images – all meticulously worked and inspired by the director’s cinephile obsessions. In The Substance, we find Stanley Kubrick with The Shining, but also David Cronenberg (The Fly), Brian De Palma (Carrie) and even Paul Verhoeven.
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Demi Moore in “The Substance.”
If the price of the screenplay should not be taken lightly, it does not reflect the impressive work of the filmmaker who knew how to create a colorful and decadent universe in the service of an inspired staging. Above all, he does not salute the phenomenal interpretation of his main actress, Demi Moore.
Demi Moore’s return to grace
A very popular star – especially in the 1990s – the Hollywood icon does not hesitate to scratch her image and push all the limits to meet the demands and madness of the director. At once funny, touching and inevitably terrifying, she completely reinvents herself on screen – a rare thing for an actress who has nearly forty years of career behind her.
The release of The Substance:
We could even have dreamed of a double interpretation prize for Margaret Qualley which impresses, in turn, for its physicality. But the life of The Substance is only just beginning. This screenplay prize is only the beginning of a long journey for this film which risks knocking down many festivals in its path until its theatrical release.
Find our podcast dedicated to the film here:
The Substance, coming to theaters soon.