- Exaggerated? Absolutely not, says "The last of us" star to TT about the film that portrays an infected struggle over who will become the mayor of a small town in Texas.
–It tells about human and personal traumas, about longing. We are all humanly motivated. We all have needs, we are looking for healing, sometimes it can go wrong, it's human.
"Eddington" is a mix of action, thriller and political satire that takes place during the covid pandemic. Pascal plays the town's mayor and Joaquin Phoenix plays the role of his competitor, a somewhat peculiar sheriff. The paranoia that the pandemic triggers leads to fights and ultimately to murders and other violent acts.
"Hopeful story"
Pedro Pascal is politically liberal, he has, among other things, been at the forefront of hbtq people's rights (his sister Lux is a trans person) and he has openly criticized Israel's warfare in Palestine. "Eddington" is a satire, but Pascal does not think it is exaggerated - and he believes in its message.
I hope our film can make a difference. It's a hopeful story that deals with the present and with anxiety and fear. The audience is part of it, and it gives me hope when we share each other's stories.
"Was naive"
He takes a short break and continues:
Everything changes. I was naive enough to think that now that I'm in middle age, my perspective would be clear, that I could plan my future. I don't do that anymore.
The film's director is Ari Aster, who has previously made the horror movie "Midsommar" - "I wanted to show how you Swedes really are", he jokes. Aster tells TT that all his phobias are woven into "Eddington".
But I see it as a hopeful film. We are led by people who do not believe in the future, and what we must do is to reunite again. My film is about people who are pitted against each other. But they are all alike, it's just that they don't see it.
Gunnar Rehlin/TT
Facts: Pedro Pascal and Ari Aster
TT
Actor Pedro Pascal is 50 years old and lives in Los Angeles.
Previous roles in selection: "Narcos", "Game of thrones", "If Beale Street could talk", "Wonder woman 1984", "The Mandalorian", "Gladiator 2", "The last of us", "Fantastic four".
Screenwriter and director Ari Aster is 39 years old and lives in New York.
Previous films in selection: "Hereditary", "Midsommar", "Beau is afraid".
Current: With "Eddington" which gets a Swedish cinema premiere 8/8.
