POLITICAL FICTION

ATROPIA

2025 / 103 min / color

Hailey Gates’ stunning debut feature was the breakout sensation of the recent Sundance Film Festival, where it was honored with the Grand Jury Prize. The titular Atropia is a fictional Iraqi city located just a few hours from Hollywood – a hyper-realistic war simulator designed to prepare American soldiers for armed conflict. What appears to be a major studio backlot is in fact a meticulously choreographed training ground where hired actors and extras play the roles of Iraqi civilians every day. Among them is Fayruz (a brilliant performance by Alia Shawkat), who naively sees the simulation as her ticket to Hollywood stardom. She plays her part with complete dedication until she meets a seasoned American soldier who plays the “enemy” as part of the training for younger recruits. As her feelings for him start to grow, she puts the entire simulation at risk — stripping away the facade and exposing its inherent absurdities. Gates’ original and scathing satire masterfully layers a subversive sense of humor into its bitter reflection on the American war machine. Donald Trump is probably not a fan.

• Sundance Film Festival – Grand Jury Prize