Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis': The collaboration with Neri Oxman and controversial themes

Despite mixed box office results, "Megalopolis" aims to challenge conventional storytelling and aesthetics.

In "Megalopolis," a film that has elicited polarizing responses at the box office, director Francis Ford Coppola presents a visionary future through the eyes of his protagonist, Cesar Catilina, played by Adam Driver. Catilina is an urbanist who invents a revolutionary building material called Megalon, set against a backdrop of a utopian cityscape designed in collaboration with acclaimed Israeli-American designer Neri Oxman, known for her innovative approach to "material ecology."

Oxman, whose artistic work has graced prestigious venues like MoMA and the Centre Pompidou, draws inspiration from Manhattan’s pre-colonial landscape. She describes the film's aesthetic as embodying “hills that are the remains of skyscrapers and valleys following the city's grid.” The alternative city in Coppola’s narrative has been reimagined as "New Rome," adding a layer of complexity to its setting.

At the premiere of "Megalopolis" in New York City on September 23, Oxman made a notable appearance alongside Coppola. Although she declined to comment on her involvement, her multifaceted role in the film extends to portraying a physician. Interestingly, her husband, billionaire activist Bill Ackman, highlighted on social media that much of Oxman’s character development and the scientific concepts behind Megalon did not make the final cut.

Ackman, a vocal critic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, has also faced his share of controversies. His recent campaign to oust a Harvard president over plagiarism allegations coincided with a public apology from Oxman regarding citation issues in her PhD dissertation. Adding to the intrigue, Oxman’s past acceptance of a donation from the notorious Jeffrey Epstein has stirred further debate.

Despite these controversies, Coppola appears undeterred, emphasizing his intention to collaborate with individuals who have faced public backlash, stating, “What I didn’t want to happen is that we’re deemed some woke Hollywood production.” As "Megalopolis" seeks to redefine cinematic boundaries, audiences are left to ponder its artistic merit amid the surrounding discourse.