Coralie Fargeat on The Substance and the Violence of Self-Improvement

Speaking with Coralie Fargeat at the Marrakech International Film Festival 2025

At the 2025 Marrakech International Film Festival, Shashat Media spoke with filmmaker Coralie Fargeat about The Substance and its exploration of self-improvement as a form of violence.

When asked whether the film suggests that society now demands constant self-improvement beyond what people can emotionally survive, Fargeat said yes. She explained that The Substance is about the violence we inflict on ourselves in order to conform to ideals that are presented as the only path to happiness.

Fargeat said the problem lies in how these ideals are imposed, particularly around appearance. She believes that the way we look should not define how we live in society or how we feel about ourselves. When people are made to feel unhappy with who they are, she explained, it becomes much harder to truly grow or feel a sense of accomplishment.

The conversation also turned to the pressure placed on women. Fargeat said it is important to stop criticising women for what they choose to do with their appearance, noting that those choices exist within an environment of constant pressure and expectation. Rather than judging, she believes it is more meaningful to understand where that pressure comes from.

For Fargeat, this need to examine the source of those expectations is at the heart of The Substance. The film, she said, is not about blame, but about exposing a system that encourages people to turn against themselves.

At Marrakech 2025, Fargeat spoke with clarity and conviction, positioning The Substance as a film that challenges audiences to reconsider how society defines happiness, success, and self-worth.