A smart evisceration of the myths around beauty and attraction, Aaron Schimberg’s fourth feature puts our most enduring prejudices under the microscope to force some uncomfortable truths. Edward (Sebastian Stan), who has neurofibromatosis, is an aspiring actor living a life of seclusion in New York City who has inconveniently fallen for his new neighbour, Ingrid (Renata Reinsve), a budding playwright. Despondent that she will never love him the way he is, Edward volunteers for an experimental programme that promises to cure his condition, which it promptly does. His problems, however, are far from over in Schimberg’s thought-provoking, discomfiting, existential comedy that draws comparisons to the melancholy, mind-bending work of Charlie Kaufman. Adam Pearson, who was born with neurofibromatosis, and who starred in the director’s Chained for Life, provides an extended cameo that adds further complexity to a deliciously knotty tale.

There will be Open Captioned screenings at 13.15 on Friday 4th, and 18.00 on Thursday 10th.

Notes by David O’Mahony.