Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
4mo 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.
Image

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.