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Festival de Cannes 2024
Mihai Malaimare Jr., ASC, tells us about the challenges of Francis Ford Coppola’s new film, "Megalopolis".
By François Reumont for AFC
After more than 10 years of absence, the filmmaker behind The Godfather and Apocalypse Now returns with an extremely personal project in which he has invested a significant portion of his fortune. This is Megalopolis, a fable aimed at younger generations that reinterprets classical texts from ancient Rome in the context of a futuristic city reminiscent at times of Batman’s Gotham. It is also a family film with many main roles, featuring extensive sets and special effects to immerse the audience in this anticipatory atmosphere. The film is shot by Romanian-born cinematographer Mihai Malaimare Jr., ASC, a loyal collaborator of the director for nearly 20 years. The film is in Official competition for the 77th Palme d’Or.
Megalopolis is a Roman epic set in an imaginary modern America in the throes of decadence. The city of New Rome is in dire need of change, creating a major conflict between Caesar Catiline, a genius artist with the power to stop time, and arch-conservative mayor Franklyn Cicero. The former dreams of an ideal utopian future, while the latter remains committed to a regressive status quo that protects greed, privilege and private militias. The mayor’s jet-setting daughter Julia Cicero, in love with Caesar Catilina, is torn between the two men, and will have to discover what seems best for the future of humanity.
