Alpha: What is the disease of Julia Ducurna’s film?

Alpha, Julia Duchurnu – New and Third Film – Winner of Palme d’Or with Titania in 2021 – tricks. Viewers realize that land is happening in France, without where it is exactly and perhaps in the eighties, without it.

First of all, there is talk of a virus that transforms patients into marble statues and depicts the film’s heroin, alpha (Melissa Boros), with severe consequences. The director chooses not to name this disease. Although the whole world is still recovered from the Kovid pandemic, many viewers consider it real parallel.

“The drama that is leading in my memories”

Given the lightness of the sick and the paranoia that holds the characters, it is consistent to think that this fictitious virus is inspired by AIDS. The filmmaker himself confirmed the hypothesis.

“This is a drama that is in my memories about the 80s and 90s about the very black eras of AIDS pandemicIt explains for separation. Since I didn’t want to make a historical movie, I had to invent the disease, because what I really wanted to talk about was a terrible influence that had fears and shame in the sick, their families and generations. More generally, the entire generation of sexuality. “

The story of an injury

Several sequences of the film recalls amazing images of this time, such as abandoned messengers in hospital corridors; Civilians who collect or even panic fear of blood pollution – the pool scene testifies.

“This is what I never serveJulia Duchurnu adds. There has never been pay, never have an excuse, we have never talked about this abuse. I think it’s a bit like a movie subject: an injury crosses generations when we don’t talk when we don’t mourn the cruel and terrible situation.“

Interview of Thomas Desroches in Cannes, May 21, 2025

Alpha is currently in cinema