Alpha

Alpha is a French film written and directed by Julia Ducournau, which explores themes of death, childhood, and adaptation in the context of a global crisis. Set in a fictional city inspired by New York during the 1980s, the story follows Alpha, a 11-year-old girl living in a world marked by the spread of the AIDS epidemic. As the disease ravages society, one of Alpha's uncles falls seriously ill, forcing her to confront loss and emotional pain for the first time in a way that challenges her childlike understanding of the world.

As the illness progresses, Alpha is compelled to mature quickly, navigating between her childhood world and the complexities of a situation she cannot fully comprehend. Her inner journey, filled with fear and confusion, intertwines with the brutal reality of the virus, as she seeks answers in her surroundings, dealing with the misunderstanding of adults and the growing alienation from her daily life.

The film presents a raw and emotional look at the effects of the epidemic on younger people, through the lens of a girl who not only faces the possible loss of her loved one but also the imminent threat of social change and fear of the unknown. With prominent performances by Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim, 'Alpha' is a heartbreaking portrait of childhood in the face of a global crisis, as a young protagonist tries to understand her place in a world that is crumbling around her.