CANNES – The debut of Ari Aster’s COVID-era Western “Eddington” at the Cannes Film Festival depicted a 2020 America succumbing rapidly to conspiracy theories, TikTok, and political extremism, receiving a mixed reception.
“Eddington” features Joaquin Phoenix portraying a confused, error-prone sheriff who ventures into the mayoral race in a fictional New Mexico town. This highly anticipated American film at Cannes is directed by Aster, known for his acclaimed works “Hereditary,” “Midsommar,” and “Beau Is Afraid,” marking his first appearance in competition at the French festival.
Aster’s most politically daring film to date, “Eddington,” scheduled for release by A24 in July, delves into the pandemic’s impact on the United States, portraying a local dispute that escalates to encompass national issues such as mask mandates, the killing of George Floyd, and ideological divides.
As a portrait of the U.S. in microcosm, it’s a hardly a more peaceful affair than “Midsommar.” When Joe Cross (Phoenix) tires of the mask ordinances of the town’s mayor (Pedro Pascal), he decides to oppose him in the upcoming election. Other pressures on Cross (Emma Stone plays his shut-in wife, who has a history with the mayor) gradually increase, driving “Eddington” toward a surreal and bloody eruption.
In Aster’s dark satire, both MAGA Republicans and elitist Democrats get skewered, but the new, ominous data center just outside of town suggests a common social poison in the internet.
“Eddington,” predictably, proved divisive at Cannes. Some critics hailed it as an eerily accurate film about contemporary America, while others called it a tedious and wayward rumination.
After a not particularly enthusiastic stranding ovation, Aster himself seemed both proud and apologetic for what he had wrought.
“I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what you think,” he said, smiling. Aster added: “I don’t know, sorry?”
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Jake Coyle has covered the Cannes Film Festival since 2012. He’s seeing approximately 40 films at this year’s festival and reporting on what stands out.
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