Francis Ford Coppola's long-awaited epic, "Megalopolis," premiered at Cannes, and it's already making waves with its timely themes. “To do a Roman epic set in modern America, I had no idea that the politics of today would make that so relevant,” Coppola remarked, highlighting the film's poignant connection to contemporary issues.
Set in the city of New Rome, which mirrors New York City, "Megalopolis" stars Adam Driver as architect Cesar Catilina, who battles a conservative mayor, Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), and the radical Clodio Pulcher (Shia LaBeouf), in his quest to create a utopian society. The movie draws a parallel between the political turmoil of ancient Rome and present-day America. “What’s happening in America, in our republic, in our democracy is exactly how Rome lost their republic thousands of years ago,” Coppola said during the press conference.
Coppola stressed the critical role of artists in today's society. “The role of the artist is to illuminate contemporary life, to shine a light on it, to be the headlight. Making art that doesn’t illuminate contemporary life is like making a hamburger that has no nutrition in it,” he continued, emphasizing the importance of relevant and meaningful art.
Highlighting current political concerns, Coppola addressed fears of a shift towards authoritarianism. “Men like Donald Trump are not at the moment in charge, but there is a trend happening in the world … towards a more neo-right, even fascist division, which is frightening. Anyone who was alive during World War II saw the horrors that took place, and we don’t want a repeat of that,” he warned, calling on artists to shed light on these issues.
Interestingly, Coppola also involved Jon Voight, a conservative actor, in the conversation. “Jon, you have different political opinions than me…” Coppola started. Voight, known for his support of Trump, kept his remarks mostly apolitical, focusing instead on the broader message of the film. “Francis’ focus is to make a better world,” Voight said, reflecting on the film’s vision and its call to action for unity and problem-solving.
“One of the things I might say about our wonderful cast is that they reflect all sorts of political ideas,” Coppola noted, pointing out the diversity of thought within the film’s ensemble. Voight echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of coming together for the greater good. “We must bond together, we must help each other, we must listen to each other and we must take this on and make a better world,” Voight said passionately. “We’ve been through quite a lot. We have experience and we know many things. We have to do our best to appreciate those people who step out and attempt to show us the way a little bit.”
Coppola's "Megalopolis" isn't just a film; it's a call to arms for artists and citizens alike to engage with the world around them and strive for a better future. With its star-studded cast and relevant themes, it's set to be a powerful commentary on our times.
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