MUBI Podcast THE SUBSTANCE — Coralie Fargeat rips beauty standards to gory shreds
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Sep 19, 2024 
Coralie Fargeat, a Cannes-winning director, and Demi Moore, a celebrated actress, delve into the chilling themes of beauty and youth in cinema. Fargeat discusses casting Moore in her body-horror film, where a quest for youth through a mysterious drug turns grotesque. They explore the intersection of humor and violence, and how societal beauty standards drive women to extremes. The conversation reveals insights on self-acceptance and the haunting pressures of aging in a youth-obsessed world, offering a provocative critique of contemporary Hollywood.
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Star Wars Inspiration
- Coralie Fargeat's earliest impactful movie memory is seeing Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back at a local cinema.
- The film's adventurous world, rebellion themes, and Princess Leia's unconventional character resonated deeply.
Discovering Darker Genres
- As a teenager, Fargeat discovered darker genre films like Robocop, Rumble, and The Fly at her grandfather's house.
- These viewings felt like entering a secret society, accessing a world forbidden by her mother.
Body Image and Societal Pressures
- The film The Substance reflects societal pressures on women regarding their bodies and their perceived value.
- Fargeat's personal experiences with ageism fueled the film's extreme portrayal of these issues.