ASTEROID CITY

Asteroid City is a dot-on-the-map desert town in the American Southwest. The year is 1955. The town's most famous attraction is a gigantic meteor crater and celestial observatory nearby. This weekend, the military and astronomers are welcoming five science award-winning children to display their inventions. Not far away, over the hills, mushroom clouds from atomic tests are seen.

The scene has been set for Wes Anderson's newest film, both a rollicking comedy, dazzling in creation, and packed to the brim with images for one to dart their eyes to and from, and also as deeply felt as any of Anderson's previous works.

What begins as a celebration to honor the achievements of the Junior Stargazers receives an unexpected visitor: an alien. Asteroid City is locked down and a fake cover story is concocted by the Army, but the precocious geniuses, in a way that calls to mind the youngsters of Spielberg classics, have a plan to get the word to the outside world.

Yet, in Anderson's inimitable way, the story is bigger than that. Back east, the characters of Asteroid City are on-stage, preparing a play that is called "Asteroid City." It is here that we venture backstage and into the lives of performers circa 1955. Theater actors polishing their craft, soon to become stars.

As funny as any of Anderson's works, to be sure, but more cosmic; an inward, personal examination of complex family relationships and new romances, parents and children, secrets, discoveries, and outwitting adults; the wide West and gray East, all in a perfect emotional balance that no one can strike better than Wes Anderson.

Click here to read our 4-star review of 'Asteroid City'.

To celebrate the release of 'Asteroid City' in cinemas, we're giving you the chance to win a double pass.

To win one of five double passes thanks to Universal Pictures, just make sure you follow both steps:

Competition opens at 5:00pm AEST on Sunday 30th July 2023 and closes at 11:59 pm AEST on Sunday 6th August 2023. Five winners will be chosen at random on Monday 7th August 2023. To successfully win, entrants must fulfil the above entry conditions before the time the competition closes. Current members/followers are eligible to enter the competition. Only one entry per person. Only one winner per household. To be a valid winner, the entrant must not have won a prize from SWITCH within the last 28 days. Each winner will receive one double pass to 'Asteroid City'. By entering, you agree to receive occasional emails from SWITCH in the future. If you decide to unsubscribe from these updates, any further entries will not be applicable. Only Australian residents are eligible to enter.