By Narges Pirhayati
Beauty Standards and Identity in The Substance
The film shows the conflict between an old and a new version of the same person. Their relationship is full of tension and struggle, and each tries to take control. The old self works hard to create the new self and even makes sacrifices, but in the end, it cannot handle the damage caused by the new self. Despite everything, the old self cannot wholly destroy the new one because, like society, it is drawn to the new self’s beauty. Meanwhile, the new self is ruthless toward the old, blaming it for all past failures and ready to erase it. This struggle reflects what many women experience as they age: the challenge of accepting themselves as they have aged or trying to reclaim their youth through various beauty procedures like cosmetic surgery. The film also shows how social pressure and fear prevent the old self from returning to its identity. These pressures act like invisible chains that force the character into a cycle of wanting to be authentic and feeling forced to fit in. This is especially clear in scenes where the main character hesitates but ultimately conforms to beauty standards.
The film uses the bathroom as a space where the character faces her true, unmasked self. All illusions are stripped away and reveal the body in its rawest form. The camera carefully examines the female body to emphasize how it is constantly judged and controlled.
On the other hand, the protagonist’s empty, lifeless home represents the loss of personal space to social and professional demands. It is no longer a place of rest but a backstage area for preparing to be seen in public. The home is cold and empty, no longer a space for personal life and experiencing intimacy.
Some critics have said that the film’s theme is cliché because films with a similar theme have been made before, but I appreciate the director’s courage in addressing it. Just because a topic is common does not mean it is unimportant. The pressure to be beautiful has increased over time. Calling a subject cliché should not be an excuse to ignore it. Many so-called clichés remain unresolved social issues that need discussion.
The film’s final scene delivers a powerful message: society ultimately rejects and destroys the very monstrous being it created, a symbol of the identity crisis regarding the beauty it imposes.
The film highlights the paradox of aging: if you accept it, you are dismissed as unattractive; if you resist it, you are still rejected as unnatural and strange.