Mandagsfilmen: A Different Man

An actor undergoes a radical transformation and ends up playing the role of himself. This dark comedy is a sharp satire on a society that equates beauty with a good life.

Edward (Sebastian Stan) has neurofibromatosis, a condition that, in his case, has caused severe facial deformities. Deeply self-conscious about his appearance, he loses hope when the beautiful writer Ingrid (Renate Reinsve) rejects him. When offered an experimental cure, Edward seizes the chance to face the world as a new and handsome version of himself. But things take a turn when Oswald, another man with neurofibromatosis, enters his life – and Ingrid's. Oswald is witty, charismatic, and seemingly unaffected by his appearance, embodying everything Edward dreams of being.

A Different Man is a psychological portrait of a man burdened by insecurities, exploring themes of self-liberation and authenticity, regardless of societal beauty standards. The film is beautifully intricate, delving into life, theater, and how someone else can step in and take the role you were born to play because you wanted to be someone else. Both funny and painful, the story is laced with biting irony.