“Elisabeth Sparkle, renowned for an aerobics show, faces a devastating blow on her 50th birthday as her boss fires her. Amid her distress, a laboratory offers her a substance which promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself.” (Google synopsis)
I found that my idea was similar in which a popular star faces rivalry with someone younger and more talented. The Substance had interesting and beautiful cinematography with a lot of symbolism (an element that I loved).
The colour palettes and construction of the environments were very striking, with a lot of contrast between them. Elisabeth’s apartment has a bright pink carpet and dark hallways in contrast to her bathroom which is floor-to-ceiling white tile and sterile.
The film takes inspiration from different eras: 80s aerobics and Old Hollywood style costuming. In an interview with Vogue, writer-director Coralie Fargeat stated that, “From the start I knew I wasn’t interested in depicting the real Hollywood but rather what it’s about. It’s about beauty. It’s about success. Taking it out of reality was a way to make it timeless and thus universal, like the story could happen today, yesterday, or tomorrow—as well as anywhere. I wanted the locations and set decorations to have a very strong symbolic meaning.” Linking to this, Fargeat revealed that the long orange corridor at the TV network represents Elisabeth’s life; starting at one end and finishing once she reaches the other. It was clear that the colours also held meanings; Sue’s main colour was pink, representing femininity and softness but it was insincere and manufactured – since she was “manufactured”. There was also a scene where Elisabeth, following a cookbook, is told to “Eviscerate the turkey,” which she does and is interjected with shots of Sue. The juxtaposition of something grotesque being paired with something beautiful is strong imagery that highlights beauty as being a key theme.
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