Ari Aster Reflects on Beau Is Afraid: Ari Aster, the acclaimed director behind films like “Midsommar,” is taking a moment to reflect on his latest creation, “Beau Is Afraid.” In an interview with Vanity Fair, Aster shared his observations about the film’s reception and the intricacies that might have eluded the audience.
“Beau Is Afraid,” distributed by A24, explores a narrative starring Joaquin Phoenix as a character on a journey of traumatic self-discovery. The film has been described as divisive and experimental, which Aster embraces as part of his creative intention. However, the movie’s reception wasn’t what he expected.
Aster revealed that the film concludes with a scene in a theater slowly emptying out with an audience that appeared indifferent. Reflecting on this ending, he mused, “I wasn’t quite ready for just how prophetic that ending was going to be.” He noted that some aspects of the film were overlooked or misunderstood during its initial release.
One of Aster’s hopes for “Beau Is Afraid” is to encourage deeper discussion and analysis. He mentioned that certain elements and Easter eggs in the film remain unexplored. He expressed disappointment in the initial reaction, which he perceived as too focused on delivering a verdict, without digging into the film’s experimental nature.
“Beau Is Afraid” is known for its unique approach to storytelling, including a character who does not undergo conventional change. Aster aimed to challenge traditional narrative structures and intentionally designed the film to be divisive and polarizing.
Despite his pride in the film and its shape, Aster acknowledges that its divisiveness might have acted as a deterrent for some potential viewers. He wished for a time when divisive films like this could spur audience debate and excitement, rather than deterring potential viewers.
In the end, Ari Aster expressed his desire for “Beau Is Afraid” to continue to provoke discussion and not be overlooked due to its polarizing nature. He is looking forward to his future projects, including a Western in collaboration with Joaquin Phoenix.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What inspired Beau Is Afraid?
Beau’s perspective on life is captured in the movie. Phoenix drew inspiration for Beau’s response to the world around him from a video on YouTube. The video showed a police officer having a panic attack while on duty.
What short film is Beau Is Afraid based on?
Ari Aster had been working on the film for a while. He made a short film called Beau in 2011, which he later used as inspiration for part of the feature film. In 2014, a draft of the script started circulating on the internet.
Is Beau Is Afraid about OCD?
The complex blend of paranoia and obsessive compulsive disorder depicted in Ari Aster’s portrayal of the main character Beau is truly ingenious. Throughout the 4 acts of the film, side characters make appearances, but it’s really Beau who steals the show with his guilt-ridden struggles.
Is Beau Is Afraid picaresque?
In his latest film, the talented American writer-director Ari Aster labels his expansive and adventurous third feature as a three-hour “anxiety comedy.” He playfully refers to it as a surreal “odyssey of sorts” and an “elaborate Jewish joke” with inspiration drawn from Greek plays and Kafka-esque paranoia.