Ari Aster’s ‘Eddington’ Divides Cannes Over US Political Fear, Pandemic Impact

Ari Aster's film "Eddington," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, is a politically charged contemporary Western set in a fictional New Mexico town during May 2020, amid the COVID pandemic and social unrest. The story centers on a conservative sheriff, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who runs against a pro-mask mayor, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, highlighting themes of political division, misinformation, and societal fracture in America. Aster described the film as stemming from his own fear and anxiety about a society where shared reality has eroded, emphasizing the rise of hyper-individualism and the loss of common social bonds. Pascal and Aster both spoke at the Cannes press conference about the film’s reflection of the dangerous political climate and the importance of telling stories to confront fear and division. The film sparked polarized reactions, mirroring its thematic focus on America’s fragmented realities and the urgent need for reengagement across societal divides. Overall, "Eddington" is seen as a stark, provocative commentary on the current American zeitgeist, with its cast and director acknowledging the risks and anxieties involved in addressing such contentious issues through cinema.