Ari Aster's 'Eddington' premieres at Cannes with COVID-era horror

Ari Aster premiered his new film 'Eddington' at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, competing for the Palme d'Or. The film is set in the town of Eddington, where Sheriff Joe Cross (played by Joaquin Phoenix) struggles with his own asthma and personal dramas while residents remain masked and in lockdown, even though COVID-19 never reached the town. The narrative weaves conspiracy theories, civil battles, and American violence, with smartphones and social media as central characters. Aster, known for 'Hereditary' (2018) and 'Midsommar' (2019), uses the film to critique contemporary paranoia and existential disorientation. However, the review finds the film overly complex and unconvincing, struggling to balance its many themes without resorting to stereotypes. The Cannes festival also features a photographic exhibition at the Barriere Majestic hotel on Palestinian journalist Fatma Hassouna, killed with her family by an Israeli missile, reflecting global crises in Ukraine and Gaza.