The blood-stained 'Substance' of the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Hilal Özdemir

The Substance is a 2024 US film directed by Coralie Fargeat.

The Substance tells the story of Elisabeth Sparkle, a famous television personality who turns to a mysterious method to rejuvenate herself. After being fired by her producer due to her advancing age, Elisabeth falls into despair. Things change completely when she meets a mysterious group following a traffic accident.

The Substance tells a striking story about both the male gaze of the media industry and the use of the female body as a popular object, through the story of Elisabeth, who was once a favorite name on television and lost her popularity as she aged.

Today, with the influence of social media, the effort of women to be fitter and more beautiful has turned into a race. While photoshopped photos are shared to get more likes, women on the other end of the internet are left alone with the question, "Why am I not like that?"

THE FILM'S STRIKING QUESTION: "WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A BETTER VERSION OF YOURSELF?".

After her accident, Elisabeth meets a doctor who introduces her to a secret group that is exactly the solution to her problems. With the drugs she receives from these people, she creates a "better" version of herself. Throughout the process, Elisabeth stays in contact with a mysterious voice on the phone. After explaining the details of the drugs to be used, the voice on the other end of the phone gives Elisabeth an important warning; it says, "There is no such thing as 'the other,' that is also you."

Elisabeth follows the instructions given and gives birth to her new version. We say gives birth, because the drugs do not perform a rejuvenation on Elisabeth's existing body. An original body and a younger body born from it are created. That is why the sentence spoken by the voice on the phone, 'There is no such thing as the other, that is also you,' is important. This sentence, which is repeated several times throughout the film, actually reminds us that the entire transformation is within the person.

It is difficult to exist as a woman in many lines of work, but things are a bit more complicated in the media sector. In an industry dominated by the male gaze and language, what keeps women one step ahead of others is their age and physical appearance. Because a woman who is to appear on screen must be 'beautiful'.

Since Elizabeth has been in the industry for many years, this 'acceptance' regarding the female body has become ingrained in her. She knows that every line on her skin means she will be erased from the industry. For this reason, Sue, whom she created from her own body, soon becomes her savior.

Sue, who makes producers admire her with her beauty, becomes the new star of the screen. Becoming so popular in such a short time confronts Elisabeth with jealousy, and an internal conflict begins between her old self and her new self.

The perception of the "perfect body" in the film is a concept that has been imposed on us by the media, culture, and popular standards for many years. This idealized body is so etched into the minds of the audience that when a real human figure is encountered, this figure appears foreign and inadequate.

In recent years, as traditional media has given way to social media platforms, the acceptance based on the "beauty" perception of the female body has increased even further. Platforms that constantly feature flawless bodies and "perfect" faces cause women to hate their own bodies. However, what is emphasized in the film is this: There is no such thing as perfect. The perception of beauty changes over time and is shaped by the impositions of popular culture.

After Elisabeth creates her new version, Sue, Sue also constantly searches for a better version. This is a vicious cycle that continues on both a personal and societal level. The ultimate message in the film is not to be perfect, but to be accepted and to be "good" even with our differences.

The real substance is not outside, but within us. When we love ourselves as we are, we become stronger against criticisms in the outside world.

In the film, the fact that the new version manifests in another body makes the narrative even more effective. Because if the drugs used had rejuvenated the existing body, Elisabeth would never have understood the situation she was in as a narcissistic individual. But seeing someone younger and different in appearance in front of her, and seeing the parts of her original body that are lost every time she applies the 7-day drug regimen, makes her understand the situation better.

As Elisabeth approaches the end, she realizes how much she has wronged her body. The film, which opens with the construction of a new star for Elisabeth Sparkle on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, ends with the same star cracking, fading, and aging under the influence of the passing years. Just like Elisabeth's life.

The film's visual language creates a dark and intense atmosphere that reflects the psychological states of the characters. The music deepens the audience's emotional experience, accompanying the characters' inner journeys.

To the days when we find the substance within us and bring it to light before it is too late...

News Source: 12punto