Taglines: The End of an Era. The beginning of everything.
Armageddon Time, a deeply personal coming-of-age story about the strength of family and the generational pursuit of the American Dream. James Gray returns with a big-hearted coming-of-age story that explores friendship and loyalty, bigotry and racial tension, against the backdrop of an America poised to elect Ronald Reagan as president… themes that remain as relevant as ever today.
Queens, New York. The 1980s. 12-year-old Paul Graff is growing up in a warm and rowdy family that includes his grandfather, who encourages his artistic aspirations. His best friend is John Crocker, an African-American boy. The two are inseparable and prone to mischief, but after an incident in which John and Paul share “tea that makes you laugh” (marijuana), Paul’s parents decide to transfer him to the private prep school his older brother Ted attends. Here, the student body is almost exclusively white, privileged – and prejudiced (it’s also Donald Trump’s alma mater). Together, the boys concoct a risky scheme to escape their lives and run away to Florida…
Armageddon Time is an American period drama film written, directed, and produced by James Gray. It stars Anne Hathaway, Anthony Hopkins, and Jeremy Strong. The film was shot in New Jersey with cinematographer Darius Khondji. The film premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2022, where it received a seven-minute standing ovation from the audience.
About the Story
In 1980 Queens, New York City, on his first day in 6th grade, 11-year-old Jewish-American Paul Graff becomes fast friends with a rebellious African-American named Johnny. However, Johnny was held back by a year and gets harsher treatment from their teacher when they both joke around in class. Paul often disassociates from his schoolwork and draws pictures instead.
Paul lives with his financially stable family of Jewish heritage. He is very close with his maternal grandfather Aaron Rabinowitz, who encourages him to pursue his aspirations of becoming an artist. His well-meaning parents, Esther and Irving, are less convinced by Paul’s career prospects to be an artist. At night, Aaron tells Paul the story of how Aaron’s mother escaped antisemitic persecution in Ukraine, fleeing to London before eventually immigrating to the United States with Aaron and her British husband.
One day, Paul and Johnny are caught smoking cannabis in the restrooms, unaware that it’s an illegal drug. Furious, Esther forces Irving into beating Paul as punishment. Hoping that he becomes more disciplined, Paul is sent to a private school by his parents, where his older brother Ted is studying. Meanwhile, Johnny stops going to public school following Paul’s expulsion.
Paul’s private school is overseen and financed by Fred Trump, who supports Ronald Reagan in the impending US presidential election. On Paul’s first day, his daughter Maryanne, one of the school’s famous alumni, delivers a speech to the students about working to earn their success. Paul sees the school’s advantages over his previous schooling but still doesn’t feel welcome at the school. Paul is also unnerved by racist comments from other students when Johnny meets with him during playtime outdoors. Johnny also begins living in secret at Paul’s clubhouse, having nowhere to go other than living with his sick grandmother.
While playing at the park on the weekend, Paul tells Aaron of his struggles at school and how he does nothing when he witnesses racism from the other students. Aaron encourages Paul to stand up against prejudice when he sees it, reminding Paul that while antisemitism still covertly persists, he and his family still have the privilege of being white. The next day, Aaron dies of bone cancer, with the family mourning his loss.
Armageddon Time (2022)
Directed by: James Gray
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway, Robert De Niro, Cate Blanchett, Donald Sutherland, Oscar Isaac, Jeremy Strong, Tovah Feldshuh, Banks Repeta, Marcia Jean Kurtz
Screenplay by: James Gray
Production Design by: Happy Massee
Cinematography by: Darius Khondji
Film Editing by: Scott Morris
Art Direction by: Marc Benacerraf
Makeup Department: Stacey Butterworth
Music by: Christopher Spelman
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Focus Features (United States), Universal Pictures (International)
Release Date: May 19, 2022 (Cannes), November 4, 2022 (United States)
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