‘A Different Man’ Review
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What if your dreams came true by becoming someone else? You dream of transforming your disfigured face into someone better looking like Sebastian Stan, only to find that good looks don't necessarily mean success or happiness. Writer-director Aaron Schimberg keeps this in mind as he delves into a cautionary tale that shows how changing your appearance on the outside doesn't make any difference on the inside. One of those people is aspiring actor Edward (Sebastian Stan), who has neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes tumor-like growths in the body, in this case around the face.
When we first meet him, he's on the set of an internal company video about how to deal with hurtful coworkers in a positive and respectful way. We see his daily life, for example on the train home, how people look at him differently, and the mundane life at home. He doesn't have much interaction until the arrival of a new neighbor named Ingrid (Renate Reinsweg), an aspiring playwright, who he enjoys chatting with. They eventually become friends and there seems to be a spark between them.
Then one day, his doctor tells him about an experimental drug that could potentially treat Neurofibromatosis. He accepts the treatment and, over time, he notices that the skin on his face gradually peels off, giving way to brand new skin underneath, transforming him from a deformed human into a man resembling Sebastian Stan. It's like a whole new world for him and the first thing he does is confidently leave his apartment and head to one of the local bars. He no longer has to walk around avoiding social contact when hanging out. Available to stream on Afdah info.
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