‘Titane’ Director Julia Ducournau Unveils Another Controversial New Film, ‘Alpha’!

〈Alpha〉 is a body film that follows 13-year-old Alpha as the tattooed letter ‘A’ on her body leads her into the abyss of fear, stigma and hatred. When it screened in competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, it drew sharply divided reactions, earning a high of 100 and a low of 20 on Metacritic. Even amid those polarized responses, “The chemistry among the three actors makes 〈Alpha〉 shine” (Collider), “The ensemble between the actors heightens the tension” (The Irish Times), “An unforgettable, great acting achievement” (Deadline Hollywood Daily), “Perfect performances” (Third Coast Review) and “Excellent performances that deliver deep emotion” (LAist) were among the consistent praise for the cast’s performances and chemistry.

Tahar Rahim, who plays Armin, a drug addict, has drawn particularly strong praise. In addition to losing more than 20 kilograms for the role, he prepared by volunteering with Gaia, an addiction-support organization. In 〈Alpha〉, he completely sheds his familiar image, meticulously building the character’s gestures, speech patterns and physical sensibility. Rahim, who has built a filmography that crosses genres and borders since his work in Jacques Audiard’s 〈A Prophet〉, said, “I approach a character through the body.” Of working with director Julia Ducournau, he added, “I have never understood a director so deeply on the first day of shooting, in the first sequence, on the first take. It was a magical experience.” His comments have raised expectations for the pair’s singular chemistry.

Golshifteh Farahani’s presence is equally striking. Drawing on an international career and her experience in exile, she portrays not merely a protector but a mother whose love and fear are both intensely magnified. Farahani, who has established a singular screen presence through work with such acclaimed filmmakers as Jim Jarmusch, including on 〈Paterson〉, is poised to leave another strong impression in her collaboration with Ducournau. She said, “Art transcends borders,” adding, “〈Alpha〉 is filled with light, human moments, love and unbiased empathy, despite all the ugly and difficult things that happen.” Her words hint at the tenderness beneath the film’s rough exterior.

Melissa Boros is drawing attention as the new face Ducournau has once again introduced to the world. She convincingly embodies Alpha, an unstable, rebellious yet vulnerable character, and drives the film with a powerful presence unusual for a newcomer. Boros, whom Harper’s Bazaar France has highlighted as a “neo icon,” firmly establishes her own identity through the film and is expected to emerge as another compelling actor discovered by Ducournau.

Director Julia Ducournau said, “I wrote the roles with Tahar Rahim and Golshifteh Farahani in mind. There was no other option to replace them.” She continued, “I want to find the most personal thing in actors. I want to draw out an intimate part that everyone can relate to but that is difficult to articulate. That personal thing ultimately becomes universal.” Regarding the casting of Alpha, she said, “The character is 13, but I did not want to work with an actual minor. The subject matter was too dark, and we also had to address the sensitive context of the emergence of sex and the way disease spreads,” explaining, “Melissa Boros was 19 at the time of filming.”

Through the meticulous ensemble work of Tahar Rahim, Golshifteh Farahani and Melissa Boros, 〈Alpha〉 builds an intense emotional portrait of fear and stigma, love and wounds. 〈Alpha〉, where Ducournau’s world meets the cast’s explosive chemistry, opens Sept. 30.