The Substance

You Are Loved! / You were loved How a simple word can mangle and change our behaviour, our expression, confidence, self-assurance in ourselves. The Substance shows us how it really is to be old and to be a woman too. Particularly in businesses where you expose yourself and live out of that. How alive you really are if you can disappear out of everyone's mind's in half a minute? How irreplaceable are you really? The Substance also shows in how important it is Self-Love, in a world and context where tons of times we are judged because of how we look, or maybe people just know us cause of that, a pretty face. And in that regard the film shows metaphor after metaphor, through incredible visuals, dialogue and actions. This is what filmmaking was made for, to make us understand motions through art, not forcing us to think in a certain way, lead us through the labyrinth. Film-wise, written masterfully, Demi Moore KILLS IT, and should receive an Oscar nomination at least for best actress. The Macro Close Shots are astounding and direct. We are taken in for a ride, like babies and flies. A fly dying in a direct comparison and homage to David Cronenberg's The Fly and all of his body horror which I saw in this film as well. I can't explain how satisfied I was when finishing this, releasing all the blood, in a full theatre was hilarious. People laughing out of tension, I was laughing out of tension and satisfaction. Nevertheless, I really do have a hard time with needles and I almost went out in the first sequence when they make the swap. Almost fainted but it was worth every single second of it. How important were you really for someone if you were only someone's pretty body to get more ratings in a stupid show? How important were you really? Even if you get a star printed in Hollywood will you be remembered? Will anyone care if they step on you and tear you apart? Ohh it was that girl from this film my father liked. Will your art make anyone feel compelled?, do you even make art at all? Questions and answers. Metaphors all through. Like the palm trees we see to represent how Elisabeth and Sue tear abart each other, and finally become one. Impressed and surprised. Cinema at its finest, MUBI you made it again. Fuck yeah.