What’s Up With the Woke Teens in Eddington?

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This post contains major plot spoilers for Eddington.

In the enticing preview for the series titled “Eddington“, one hilarious moment stood out – a fleeting scene of a teenager executing a TikTok dance, accompanied by the caption “When you finish reading James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room“. The youth in question is Sarah (Amélie Hoeferle), also known as @sarah_bernieorbuuust on Instagram – one of the socially aware teenagers from “Eddington“. Interestingly, Sarah is not just any socially aware teen but arguably the most conscious in the small New Mexico town. Her peers, Eric (Matt Gomez Hidaka) and Brian (Cameron Mann), vie for her attention, primarily through shallow criticisms of police violence and white privilege, mainly hoping to secure a romantic encounter. The year 2020 is frequently emphasized in “Eddington“, every 90 seconds or so, as the creators remind us that public displays of political opinions online became commonplace during communication.

In the film “Eddington,” director Ari Aster satirizes various characters, including the town’s teenagers who are frequently the target of his humor. The main teen trio, representing a typical Gen-Z group, are actively involved in a local leftist movement, fueled by the death of George Floyd and ongoing police violence. As COVID restrictions strain the social order of Eddington, Eric and Brian, two unsupervised, horny teens, try to assert their newfound sense of social justice, often through posting online or attempting to “out-woke” each other. Aster intends for us to find these characters amusing due to their apparent ineptitude.

Brian, played by Nick Kroll, exhibits a frantic eagerness and self-assertion. He proposes talking to Sarah at a socially-distanced party but is consistently overshadowed by Eric. Brian may not comprehend because his brain development isn’t complete that social awareness doesn’t equate to being the best at it. On the other hand, Gomez Hidaka portrays Eric with brash confidence, emulating his father, Mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), who is also smug and somewhat obnoxious. Sarah, played by Carey Mulligan, appears to recognize the value of associating with a local politician’s son but is not immune to the power she wishes to dismantle. This film offers a cynical perspective on significant social moments, as exploitation of such situations for personal gain predates the unusual events of 2020.

Eddington avoids stereotyping teens because they show varying levels of social consciousness. Aster acknowledges that people get radicalized for various reasons, including altruism but often due to the desire to fit in or troll others. Brian’s attempts to win Sarah over are driven by his romantic feelings, which escalate into panic as the town spirals into chaos. The story portrays Sarah, who criticizes her ex-boyfriend and Michael (Micheal Ward), a Black cop, for being part of an oppressive system, as emotional and self-centered. However, despite this portrayal, Sarah appears to be genuinely earnest in her actions. Her lack of self-awareness and maturity is more due to her age rather than any malicious intent. The girl’s blonde hair doesn’t make her an expert on anything, but she seems to act sincerely.

In a town struggling to preserve its existence, there appears to be little concern towards the welfare of future generations. The shooting of Joe’s bullet through Eric, a youngster despite his sometimes foolish behavior, carries a hint of sorrow. These adolescents lack strong role models within their community. Despite Ted claiming to be Eddington’s neoliberal savior, his affection towards his son is seldom seen. In the absence of Eric’s mother, the bond between Ted and Eric has deteriorated into cold resentment. The strained relationship between Ted and his son echoes Ted’s strained connection with Eddington, a place he’s meant to protect. However, his concern extends only as far as his reputation. In the desolate expanse of Eddington, the teens gradually understand that the adults have no more wisdom than they do and rebel. They become defiant; they talk back. As they mirror their elders in immaturity and uselessness, a pang of sadness lingers; it was believed that we would come out of this era as wiser or more responsible. Alas, Eddington laughs it off. In essence, the teens are brats, but their innocence and hopefulness, which they so quickly discard, still hurts; many had hoped that we would emerge from this period in history as improved individuals. However, Eddington has the last laugh.

In simpler terms, Aster’s viewpoint suggests that individuals who pursue social justice solely based on their personal relationships are not as ignorant or harmful as those who commit heinous acts like cold-blooded murder, such as a sheriff killing the mayor’s son. Moreover, Aster implies that people from all political spectrums are driven by self-preservation; when it comes to crucial decisions, most prioritize their own interests. Later in the film, Brian, who saves Joe’s life and records this act, gains fame as a right-wing influencer in Gainesville, Florida, similar to Kyle Rittenhouse. The violent incident he filmed serves as the movie’s tragic climax and bitter punchline.

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2025-07-24 02:54