Wes Anderson’s films may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is an undeniable fact that the man is definitely an auteur. He is a director who has a singular, unparalleled vision for telling his stories. But what is his vision anyway? The new film, Asteroid City, by one of the most fascinating cinematic voices of the generation, is probably hinting at Anderson’s vision in a definitive way. The film reminded me of Synecdoche, New York, another classic, where the characters suffer their angst and frustrations stemming from the meaninglessness of life. It’s not that bleak an affair in this movie as compared to the Charlie Kaufman film, but it is certainly on that path.

The whole plot of Asteroid City is a meta-narrative. Conrad Earp’s play is about to be performed on stage. The play is about characters stuck in a place called Asteroid City,...