CANNES, France (AP) 鈥� Ari Aster's COVID-era Western 鈥淓ddington,鈥� about a 2020 America quickly losing its mind to conspiracy theories, TikTok and political extremism, premiered to a mixed reception at the
鈥淓ddington,鈥� starring Joaquin Phoenix as a muddled, mistake-prone sheriff who runs for mayor in a fictional New Mexico town, was among the most feverishly awaited American films at Cannes. It marks the first time in competition at the French festival for Aster, the lauded director of 鈥淗ereditary,鈥� and
It's also his most politically ambitious film.
鈥淓ddington,鈥� which A24 will release in July, plunges into the U.S. pandemic psyche, plotting a small-town feud that swells to encompass nationwide events, including mask mandates, the death of George Floyd and right-left divisions.
As a microcosm portrait of the United States, it's a hardly a more peaceful affair than 鈥淢idsommar.鈥� 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 鈥� Emma Stone plays his shut-in wife, who has a history with the mayor 鈥� gradually increase, driving 鈥淓ddington鈥� 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.
鈥淓ddington,鈥� 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.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what to say. I don鈥檛 know what you think,鈥� he said, smiling. Aster added: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know, sorry?鈥�
On Saturday, Aster and the cast faced questions from journalists at a news conference that inevitably focused on how much the filmmakers felt 鈥淓ddington鈥� was an accurate reflection of current times.
鈥淚 wrote this film in a state of fear and anxiety about the world, and I wanted to try to pull back and show what it feels like to live in a world where nobody can agree on what is real anymore,鈥� Aster said. 鈥淭he last 20 years, we鈥檝e fallen into this age of hyper individualism."
鈥淲e鈥檙e on a dangerous road, and I feel like we鈥檙e living through an experiment that鈥檚 gone wrong,鈥� Aster added. 鈥淚 think people feel very powerless and very fearful.鈥�
Pascal compared his director to a 鈥渕ole鈥� or 鈥渨histleblower鈥� 鈥� 鈥渟omeone on the inside being like, 鈥楾his is what鈥檚 happening.'鈥�
Pascal, when asked about recent deportations in the U.S., was reluctant to speak. 鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously very scary for an actor who participated in the movie to speak on issues like this."
鈥淚 want people to be safe and to be protected and I want very much to live on the right side of history. And I鈥檓 an immigrant," added Pascal. 鈥淢y parents are refugees from Chile. I, myself, was a refugee. We fled a dictatorship, and I was privileged enough to grow up in the U.S.鈥�
鈥淚f it weren鈥檛 for that, I don鈥檛 know what would have happened to us,鈥� he said. "I stand by those protections always.鈥�
___
Jake Coyle has covered the Cannes Film Festival since 2012. He鈥檚 seeing approximately 40 films at this year鈥檚 festival and
___
For more coverage of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, visit .
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
