The Côte d'Azur becomes Hollywood's playground with « The Substance »

Unless you have been living in a cave for the past few weeks, have a spotty internet connection, or hold a total aversion to cinema, it’s impossible not to have heard of the movie already being dubbed the film of the year: The Substance. Featuring a more radiant-than-ever Demi Moore (who recently celebrated her 62nd birthday), this body horror film, seemingly American-made in Hollywood, was in fact filmed under the sun of the south of France. Locations such as Cannes, Antibes, Carros, and Saint-Laurent-du-Var served as backdrops for this horror and gore festival, winning over cinephiles worldwide just days after its theater release. While the production is British-American, the film carries an undeniable French touch, thanks to its setting and French director, Coralie Fargeat, alongside her production team. Let’s delve into how France managed to weave itself into this Hollywood masterpiece making waves globally.

Though the story is set in Los Angeles, not a single scene was filmed in the U.S., instead taking place between studios in the Île-de-France region and beneath the blue skies of the Alpes-Maritimes. Initially, Eastern Europe was intended to host the filming, but budget constraints led production to southern France, whose palm trees mirror those of California. According to executive producer Nicolas Royer, Fargeat’s goal was to “avoid making it look exactly like Los Angeles, but instead to find settings evocative of Hollywood and California.” This was achieved by utilizing the symbolism of palm trees. Thus, the Croisette boulevards became American-style streets, the Anthéa Theatre transformed into the heroine’s hospital, and locations like Marineland’s parking lot and Antibes’ aquatic stadium saw Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley strolling through. At the Cannes Festival (where the film won the screenplay award), audiences were genuinely surprised to learn the film was shot in France.

Of course, the setting was not the only French touch: the production and direction teams were mainly French, with a notable emphasis on French women. Indeed, The Substance is a deeply feminist film at all levels. It tells the story of a woman who loses herself trying to conform to society’s and men’s aesthetic expectations—a story told by women, for women. The director, on-set supervisor, production designer… many key roles were held by “girl bosses” of the cinema industry. “There were many women 'running' the set,” said film director Robert Pizzelli. This female-driven team won over the stars of the film, thrilled to work with a French director and shoot in France, a dream locale for many Americans seeking European clichés. Beyond its Hollywood décor and essence, The Substance reflects the bold vision of a filmmaker on the universal theme of self-image, resonating and sparking introspection in viewers, American or otherwise. While its backdrop represents America in all its glory, with its clichés and unrealistic societal expectations, the film likely would have taken a different direction had it been shot in the U.S. However, judging by the enthusiastic response from the American press and media, it’s clear there’s nothing to change about this grand production, least of all its setting.