A Different Man


A Different Man is a 2024 American psychological dark comedy film written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, starring Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson. The film follows Edward, an actor with neurofibromatosis who undergoes an experimental procedure to change his face, only for his new life to make past insecurities and new issues apparent.
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2024, and was screened at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, where Stan won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance. It was theatrically released in the United States on September 20, 2024, by A24. It received positive reviews from critics, who mostly praised the performances of Stan and Pearson, as well as Schimberg's screenplay. The film earned a nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 97th Academy Awards, while Stan won Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.

Plot

Edward Lemuel is a socially awkward struggling actor with neurofibromatosis that manifests as a disfiguring facial condition. He befriends his new neighbor Ingrid Vold, an aspiring playwright, but is too nervous to act on his romantic feelings towards her. He secretly undergoes an experimental medical treatment to cure him of his condition. Seeing that it has worked, he assumes the identity of "Guy Moratz" and claims that Edward has killed himself, instead of continuing to report to his doctors.
Some time later, "Guy" is now a wealthy and successful real estate agent. One day, he discovers that Ingrid is producing Edward, an off-Broadway play that she has written based on his life. Using an old cast mask of his original face that was given to him by the doctors, he uses it to audition and is cast in the lead role after some initial questioning from Ingrid. Edward and Ingrid begin a sexual relationship soon thereafter, though Ingrid remains unaware of the truth of his identity. During rehearsals, they are visited by Oswald, a man also with neurofibromatosis who has taken an interest in the play. The confident and charismatic Oswald quickly befriends the cast and crew, although Edward is perturbed by his outgoing demeanor. One night, Ingrid asks Edward to wear the mask during sex; he hesitantly obliges until she abruptly laughs it off as "fucked up."
Ingrid and Oswald grow closer, and after Edward is unable to memorize his lines, she decides to recast Oswald in the lead role and make rewrites based on Oswald's feedback. The play is a success, and Oswald's performance receives rave reviews. Edward's mental state begins to deteriorate: he begins stalking Oswald, erratically starts acting like Oswald using the mask, and is fired from his real estate job. He eventually storms the stage of the play one night to physically attack Oswald. During the scuffle, part of the set falls on Edward, breaking his legs and arms. While he recovers from his injuries, he moves back into his former apartment next to Ingrid, who is now living with Oswald and making plans to adapt Edward into a film with Michael Shannon in the title role. One day, after Edward's physical therapist expresses disgust for Oswald, Edward stabs him and is jailed.
Years later, an aged Edward once again encounters Oswald. He has dinner with Oswald and Ingrid, who are planning their retirement to a commune in Canada. They reveal that the Edward film adaptation fell through and the two look back on the play with disdain. A waiter arrives to take their orders, but a visibly nervous Edward struggles to choose from the menu. Oswald jokes that "Edward" has not changed a bit.

Cast

A Different Man was announced in June 2022, with Aaron Schimberg set as writer and director. Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson were also announced as the leads, with Christine Vachon, Gabriel Mayers and Vanessa McDonnell set as producers.
Principal photography began in July 2022 and shot over 22 days in New York City, primarily in the East Village, the Upper West Side, and parts of Brooklyn.

Music

Release

A Different Man premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2024. It also screened in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, 2024. It also screened at New Directors/New Films Festival on April 3, 2024. It was released in the United States on September 20, 2024, and in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2024. The film has been selected for the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 under the World Cinema section.

Reception

Critical response

The film was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review, and ranked 21 on the Sight & Sound Best 50 Movies of 2024.
Filmmakers Karyn Kusama, Greg Kwedar and Lance Oppenheim all cited A Different Man as among their favorite films of 2024, with Kwedar saying "This movie works on you in so many ways. Its humor has a terrifying bite in that it holds a mirror to the pernicious ways that comparison is a plague on our self worth. The performances by Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson and Renate Reinsve are stunning."
In June 2025, IndieWire ranked the film at number 51 on its list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s."

Accolades

The film was selected in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, thus it was nominated to compete for the Golden Bear award.
AwardDateCategoryRecipientResult
Palm Springs International Film FestivalJanuary 4, 2024Directors to WatchAaron SchimbergWon
Berlin International Film FestivalFebruary 25, 2024Golden BearAaron SchimbergNomitated
Berlin International Film FestivalFebruary 25, 2024Silver Bear for Best Leading PerformanceSebastian StanWon
Sitges Film FestivalOctober 13, 2024Best Feature FilmA Different ManNomitated
Sitges Film FestivalOctober 13, 2024Best ScreenplayAaron SchimbergWon
Savannah Film FestivalNovember 2, 2024Maverick AwardSebastian StanWon
Gotham AwardsDecember 2, 2024Best FeatureAaron Schimberg, Gabriel Mayers, Vanessa McDonnell and Christine VachonWon
Gotham AwardsDecember 2, 2024Outstanding Supporting PerformanceAdam PearsonNomitated
National Board of ReviewDecember 4, 2024Top Ten Independent FilmsA Different ManWon
Los Angeles Film Critics AssociationDecember 8, 2024Best Supporting PerformanceAdam Pearson
Chicago Film Critics AssociationDecember 11, 2024Best Supporting ActorAdam PearsonNomitated
New York Film Critics OnlineDecember 16, 2024Best ActorSebastian StanNomitated
Dublin Film Critics' CircleDecember 19, 2024Best ActorSebastian Stan
Florida Film Critics CircleDecember 20, 2024Best Supporting ActorAdam PearsonNomitated
Greater Western New York Film Critics AssociationJanuary 4, 2025Best Original ScreenplayAaron SchimbergNomitated
Greater Western New York Film Critics AssociationJanuary 4, 2025Breakthrough DirectorAaron SchimbergNomitated
Golden Globe AwardsJanuary 5, 2025Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or ComedySebastian StanWon
Portland Critics AssociationJanuary 14, 2025Best Comedy FeatureA Different ManWon
Critics' Choice Movie AwardsJanuary 26, 2025Best Hair and Make-UpMike Marino, Sarah Graalman and Aaron SaucierNomitated
Casting Society of AmericaFebruary 12, 2025Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Feature Studio or Independent Maribeth Fox and Kimberly OstroyNomitated
Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists GuildFebruary 15, 2025Best Special Make-Up EffectsMike Marino, David Presto and Crystal JunadoNomitated
Independent Spirit AwardsFebruary 22, 2025Best Supporting PerformanceAdam PearsonNomitated
Independent Spirit AwardsFebruary 22, 2025Best ScreenplayAaron SchimbergNomitated
97th Academy AwardsMarch 2, 2025Best Makeup and HairstylingMike Marino, David Presto and Crystal JunadoNomitated