This week for Mubi Monday we’re back to short films. In fact, if you’re a fan of The Substance, you can see where Coralie Fargeat first introduced us to her thoughts on body image and beauty standards with…Reality+ (2014).
Title: Reality+
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Runtime: 22 minutes
Released: December 21, 2014 (France)
Available to stream: Exclusively on Mubi (here’s a month for free!)
What if you had the ability to control how you look and how others see you?
Luckily for Vincent (Vincent Colombe), that technology does exist.
While not a hideous beast by any means, Vincent isn’t happy with his looks and is ready to try anything. All he needs is a Reality+ chip implanted into his neck, and he’ll have complete control of his looks. However, if you’re thinking that this sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is.
Yes, the technology works. You and everyone around you will see you in the image of you that you create. During the initial set-up, you’re choosing all of your features as if you were creating a video game character. Facial structure, muscular build, anything you can think of, it’s all literally in the palm of your hand.
Sounds great, right? So what’s the catch?
Well, it only lasts for 12 hours.
That’s right, if you’re out on a date and the 12-hour mark passes, you revert back to what the real you looks like. Vincent has to be sure and make the most of his time out in public. In doing so, he instantly sees a difference in how others treat him.
So, what happens when Vincent starts to date and his daily timer on his looks starts ticking away?
A blended mix of science fiction, romance, and a few sprinkles of body horror, Coralie Fargeat makes the most of each second here and hooks you almost immediately with Reality+.
Fargeat wrote an incredible screenplay here that shines a light on the unhealthy standards we place on ourselves and the lengths we’re willing to go to in order to achieve a better physical version of ourselves. If this technology existed and was mass produced, you absolutely know that everyone would behave exactly as they were portrayed here. Keeping this grounded in a sense of realism is what makes it work so well.
There is an awful lot packed into the brisk 22-minute runtime of Reality+ (2014). So much so, that I would love to see a feature-length version of it.
If you’ve yet to see Reality+, use my code up above and go check it out!
If you have seen Reality+ (2014), I want to hear your thoughts on it!
Leave a comment below or let me know anywhere across social media.
As always, you can keep up with everything else that I’ve been watching over on my Letterboxd page.