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3mo ago

Julia Ducournau Returns to Cannes Competition with AIDS-Era Allegory 'Alpha'

The French director's latest body horror film premiered at Cannes 2025, exploring stigma and resilience through a visceral, metaphorical lens.

<em>Alpha,</em> film de Julia Ducournau, a été présenté au Festival de Cannes le lundi 19 mai 2025.
L’équipe d’Alpha au grand complet lors de la projection du film au Festival de Cannes, le 19 mai 2025.
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Overview

  • Julia Ducournau, who won the Palme d'Or in 2021 for 'Titane,' is back in the Cannes competition with her new film 'Alpha.'
  • 'Alpha' is set in the 1980s-90s and uses a fictional virus outbreak as an allegory for the AIDS crisis, examining themes of fear, stigma, and survival.
  • The film features Mélissa Boros, Golshifteh Farahani, and Tahar Rahim, with Rahim undergoing a dramatic 20 kg weight loss for his role.
  • Known for her signature body horror style, Ducournau combines graphic imagery with metaphorical storytelling in 'Alpha,' continuing her genre-defying approach.
  • 'Alpha' is scheduled for theatrical release in France on August 20, 2025, following its Cannes debut.