Final Star Wars bears message for America

Final Star Wars bears message for America Charlotte Higgins in Cannes Monday May 16, 2005 The Guardian Soldiers of the Empire stand guard at the Festival Palace before the screening of the latest Star Wars film in Cannes. Photograph: Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty The republic is crumbling under attack from alien forces. Democracy is threatened as the leader plays on the people's paranoia. Amid the confusion it is suddenly unclear whether the state is in more danger from insurgents, or from the leader himself. It sounds more like a Michael Moore polemic than a Star Wars movie. But George Lucas, speaking as his latest epic was given its world premiere at Cannes yesterday, confirmed that Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, could be read as a parable about American politics.