Pedro Pascal slams Trump-era immigration policy at Cannes, recalls refugee roots

Pedro Pascal made a powerful political statement at the Cannes Film Festival during the press conference for Ari Aster's latest film, "Eddington", a dark satire set during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Seated alongside co-stars Austin Butler, Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, and Michael Ward, Pascal veered from the film's themes to speak candidly about the state of US politics under Donald Trump and the personal stakes he carries as an immigrant and the child of refugees.

Pascal, known for his outspoken nature, responded to a question on political filmmaking by highlighting the urgency of storytelling in the face of fear-driven politics. 

Referencing the climate under Trump's presidency, he said, "Fear is the way they win. So, keep telling the stories. Keep expressing yourself and keep fighting to be who you are. Defy the people who try to make you scared… And fight back. This is the perfect way to do so in telling stories. And don't let them win."

Although he admitted feeling daunted by the gravity of the subject, saying, "It's far too intimidating a question for me to really address, I'm not informed enough," Pascal's comments rang with personal truth.

He then reflected on his family's past, one marked by political exile and survival. "I want people to be safe and to be protected, and I want very much to live on the right [side of] history," he said. 

"I'm an immigrant. My parents are refugees from Chile. We fled a dictatorship, and I was privileged enough to grow up in the US after asylum in Denmark. If it weren't for that, I don't know what would have happened to us. I stand by those protections. I'm too afraid of your question. I hardly remember what it was."

Pascal's remarks come at a time when immigration is once again a heated political flashpoint in the US. This week, the Department of Homeland Security announced a new measure that would pay undocumented migrants $1,000 and offer them travel assistance to voluntarily return to their countries.

The initiative is part of a broader crackdown reinstated by Trump during his second term, which includes stricter border enforcement and a slate of executive orders focused on detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants.

With "Eddington" itself reportedly tackling themes of isolation and absurdity during the pandemic era, Pascal's remarks blurred the line between the political and the personal, reminding audiences that storytelling is often the first act of resistance.

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