An aspiring actor undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance, but his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare.
Aspiring actor Edward undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance, but his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.—olisilumea
In New York, Edward Lemuel is an aspirant actor completely disfigured by neurofibromatosis. He has only the chance in a small part in a TV commercial inviting people and companies to help minorities. When the gorgeous Ingrid Void is his next-door neighbor, Edward befriends her and learns that she is a wannabe playwright. Soon he is romantically attracted towards Ingrid, but his disgusting appearance avoids his hit on her. He decides to be submitted to an experimental medical treatment with a new drug and receives a mask with his face to compare later. Soon he is cured, but he omits the information from the doctors and tells them that Edward committed suicide. Ingrid overhears the information, and he assumes the identity of the handsome real estate agent Guy Moratz. He becomes successful and wealthy in his new profession and one day, she accidentally sees that Ingrid is producing the off-Broadway play "Edward". Guy is selected in the audition and starts to rehearsal. Soon he has a love affair with Ingrid. However, his dream life becomes hell on Earth when the confident and intelligent Oswald, who has neurofibromatosis like he had, crosses his life.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Edward Lemuel is a 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. After receiving an experimental medical treatment that cures him of his condition, he assumes the identity of "Guy Moratz" and claims that Edward has killed himself.
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 she has written based on his life; he auditions and is cast in the lead role. 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 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.
Ingrid and Oswald grow closer, and after Edward is unable to memorize his lines, she decides to recast Oswald in the lead role. The play is a success, and Oswald's performance receives rave reviews. Edward's mental state begins to deteriorate: he begins stalking Oswald, is fired from his real estate job, and 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. One day, after Edward's physical therapist expresses disgust for Oswald behind his back, Edward stabs him and is jailed.
Years later, an aged Edward once again encounters Oswald. He has dinner with Oswald and Ingrid, now a married and highly successful creative duo who are planning their retirement to a commune in Canada. A waiter arrives to take their orders, but a visibly nervous Edward struggles to choose from the menu. Oswald jokes that Edward hasn't changed a bit.
