At the Cannes Film Festival, Ari Aster's latest film 'Eddington' stirred up intense reactions among attendees. Following its premiere, Aster expressed his gratitude and confusion amidst the divided responses, stating, "I feel very privileged to be here. This is a dream come true. Thank you so much for having me. And, I don’t know, sorry?"

Clocking in at 145 minutes, 'Eddington' paints a bleak picture of a fictional New Mexico town grappling with the chaos of 2020, including the pandemic and social unrest. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Joe Cross, a conservative sheriff challenging the pro-mask Mayor Ted Garcia, played by Pedro Pascal. As Cross battles political opposition, he is trapped in a quarantine bubble with his paranoid wife Louise (Emma Stone) and her conspiracy-driven mother.

Since its premiere, the film has ignited fierce debates. Critics are split; some laud it as a sharp social satire that effectively encapsulates the tumult of 2020, while others criticize it for reopening wounds many would prefer to leave behind. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich praised Aster for his bold storytelling, suggesting that few filmmakers possess the courage to tackle such heavy themes.

During a press conference, Pascal voiced his apprehensions about tackling such relevant issues, emphasizing a desire to be on the right side of history. He remarked, "It’s far too intimidating a question for me to address. I want very much to be on the right side of history." The film's biting critique targets both political sides, showcasing liberal hypocrisy and conservative extremism that characterized the era.

In a shocking scene, Phoenix’s sheriff swaggeringly strolls into a grocery store, reminiscent of classic Western heroes while denouncing lockdown mandates. Pascal highlighted Aster's talent for tapping into the underlying fears stemming from the lockdowns, as the film depicts a society teetering on the edge of reality.

Aster himself admitted he created the film from a place of personal anxiety, stating, "I wanted to show what it feels like to live in a world where nobody agrees on what is real anymore." This film marks Aster's first appearance at Cannes, presenting a stark departure from his previous horror works.

Reflecting on the current political climate, Aster warned, "I feel like we’re on a dangerous road, and we’re living in an experiment that hasn’t gone well… right now it’s chaos." Stone shared her experience researching conspiracy theories for her role, noting how it impacted her social media algorithms, pulling her into a vortex of unsettling information.

As the biggest conversation starter at Cannes, 'Eddington' continues to polarize critics, now sitting at a mixed score of 63 on Metacritic. With its official release coming July 16 via A24, it remains to be seen how the film will be marketed to audiences, given its provocative subject matter and the ongoing discourse it invites.