41/36
Features Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)
Narrative
An aspiring actor undergoes a radical medical procedure to transform his appearance. But the new face of his dreams quickly turns into a nightmare.. Filmed in 22 days during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.. [last lines; to Edward] Oswald: Oh, my friend, you haven’t changed a bit.. Much like Sebastian Stan’s character Edward, I’ve always seemed like a different person over the years. Of course, there was always a caveat when the person I was supposedly like seemed more interesting, friendlier, and more familiar among these groups.
This parallel to my life and the film immediately drew me in
It’s interesting that this film was so close to another film that focuses on identity, namely The Substance. If that film’s satire and bravery will define its legacy, Another Man takes a much more contemplative and sadder approach. It reflects the unique challenges that men and women face, where women are judged on their physical appearance and sex appeal, while men are judged more on their success and charisma (although sex appeal plays a major role in this film). Edward feels limited and confused by his appearance and doesn’t see his value in a society that is based on looks and height. He doesn’t realize that his inner self is interesting and complex, but he can’t harness that power within himself. Even when he’s usually attractive, he’s still the same nervous, awkward person.
That’s why Oswald’s introduction is so interesting
He acts the way he thinks he should act in this role, rather than being himself. Oswald is aggressive, assertive, and dare I say it, devilish. While his outward traits should make him a failure in life, his confidence and charismatic personality make him the perfect role model for Edward. He is strong in a way that Edward can only pretend to be, pushing him out of the drama of his own life, stealing his love interest, and earning the love and admiration that Edward felt denied. Edward is so weak and broken that he tries once again to pretend to be someone he is not on top of his false persona. Edward has never truly accepted his true self, which ultimately leads to his embarrassing results.
Does being overweight and broke make me less of a man?
I really think this movie, including the reviewer, will have a profound impact on many men. In all the debates about what masculinity is or what even defines a man, it’s hard to be our true selves because we’re afraid of being judged by mythical standards. Doesn’t the fact that I’ve never been to war make me a man? People forget the pressures that men feel in today’s society, and we just shut down and sometimes get lost in the woodwork. Suicide and death are themes that are explored in this film, and in a way, they are pushed aside. I was really intrigued by this film because we rarely see true deconstructions of a man’s psyche that don’t involve a character going all the way.
In retrospect, they handled it as well as they could
A 180 on their life and becoming a confident Casanova or something. The reality is that most of us just exist and hope that things will turn out for the better. I really wanted the film to address the elephant in the room, which was trying to portray a story about a person with a physical disability without making him suffer. I think they handled this topic masterfully with the meta commentary at the end. I don’t think they intended for this thread to overshadow the story, but at least they addressed the issue.