Thescreescore – Director Celine Song reveals a bombshell about Pedro Pascal’s character in the critically acclaimed Materialists, now playing in theaters. Song, in a recent interview with thescreescore.com, delves into the significance of Harry’s shockingly revealed scar, a detail that subtly underscores the film’s central theme: the brutal commodification of human connection in the modern dating landscape.
"It’s first introduced when Lucy’s talking to her matchmaker friend," Song explains, "even if you don’t initially understand the surgery, the film clarifies it. The crucial aspect is how we objectify each other in dating, how it crushes us all. I wanted to be fair to men too; they’re crushed by this market as well."
Harry, initially presented as the picture of perfection, is revealed to have undergone a height-increasing surgery. This seemingly superficial detail, however, acts as a powerful Chekhov’s gun, subtly foreshadowed earlier in the film. "You want it to feel inevitable," Song notes, "like the author already told you it was coming. Lucy’s initial reaction—’Oh, that’s a great investment’—highlights her initial transactional view, which dramatically shifts by the time she confronts Harry."
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This isn’t the only twist. Harry confesses to Lucy that he and his brother, both considered "unicorns" in the dating world, underwent the procedure together. This confession, coupled with Harry’s physical demonstration of his pre-surgery height, underscores his insecurities and the harsh realities he faces despite his seemingly perfect exterior. The scene becomes a poignant moment of shared trauma and transactional clarity for both Harry and Lucy.
Pascal’s performance is masterful, capturing the bittersweet humor and underlying sadness of Harry’s revelation. The scar, far from being a mere plot device, becomes a powerful symbol of the film’s broader commentary on the pressures and anxieties inherent in modern dating, regardless of gender or perceived status. It’s a detail that elevates Materialists from a simple romantic drama to a sharp, insightful exploration of human connection in a world obsessed with perfection. The film’s 9/10 rating speaks for itself. See Materialists in theaters now.
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