Director Francis Ford Coppola Warns About the Loss of 'Republic' in America

Francis Ford Coppola, the renowned and veteran director, spoke about his new film unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival, stating that decades ago when he began working on its initial concept, he did not imagine it would reflect the current political situation in America. On Friday, May 17, during a Q&A session for the film 'Megalopolis' in the coastal city of Cannes, France, he said: 'I never imagined it would align so closely with today's political situation. Because what is happening today in America, in our republic and democracy, is exactly like what happened thousands of years ago when Rome lost its republic.' The director of acclaimed works such as the 'Godfather' trilogy and films like 'The Conversation' and 'Apocalypse Now' added: 'Our politics has reached a point where we may lose our republic.' He stated that it is not politicians but artists who are the answer to this situation, as he believes they can 'shine a light' on contemporary life. 'Megalopolis' is a sci-fi film that serves as an allegory for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Coppola had originally developed a historical story inspired by the Roman Empire set in modern America. The film, inspired by a coup attempt during the Roman Republic, follows a scholarly architect's confrontation with an order-loving mayor in a fictional city called 'New Rome.' Scholar architect Caesar Catilina, played by Adam Driver, seeks to realize his vision for a utopia but faces resistance from the mayor played by Giancarlo Esposito. Mr. Esposito, known for his role in the TV series 'Breaking Bad' and the film 'The Usual Suspects,' said at the press conference: 'Last night, towards the end of the film's screening, I started to cry because I suddenly understood its meaning completely.' He added that the film does not provide clear answers to all the questions it raises but aims to encourage a collective dialogue about ways to improve society, which in turn allows people to feel hopeful about the future. Francis Ford Coppola, who wrote the initial concept for this film in the early 1980s, said that no words can express his feelings when watching the final product on the big screen. He, who has re-edited some of his works even after their public release, did not rule out the possibility of re-editing his latest work. He explained: 'I have been involved in making this film for about 20 years. If there is a way to improve a film, I will definitely do it. But I know my work on this film is done because I have started working on another film, and this is a good sign that my work on 'Megalopolis' is finished.'