A small desert town in the midst of the Cold War, a science competition for kid geniuses and an alien landing:  these are all part of the play at the center of “Asteroid City,” Wes Anderson’s newest film. The film frames itself as an anthology television series retelling the history of a play called “Asteroid City.” We meet the playwright and the actors and gain a description of the setting. 

The story kicks off when the play itself begins. By putting these different narratives on top of each other, “Asteroid City” positions itself as a discussion of grief and self-realization. Anderson’s ability to dive deep into the fragility and beauty of the human experience, even within the strangeness of his own style, is what makes him an enduring modern filmmaker.