By: Hunter Montroy

Written & Directed by: Hailey Gates

Cast: Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner, Tim Heidecker, and Chloë Sevigny

Atropia was a pleasant surprise at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It caught my attention not only because Luca Guadagnino serves as a producer but also due to its intriguing cast, featuring Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner, Tim Heidecker, and Chloë Sevigny. This marks the feature-length directorial debut of Hailey Gates, who delivers an American war satire set during the Bush administration. The film’s title, Atropia, also refers to a fabricated Iraqi military city used as a training simulation for young, inexperienced soldiers preparing for deployment.

Hailey Gates’ debut is an entertaining, messy, and ultimately worthwhile watch. The film strikes a delicate balance—treating its subject matter with seriousness while also being genuinely funny at times. The soldiers-in-training are deliberately portrayed as wildly inexperienced, emphasizing how the military exploits young men and women, sending them off to risk their lives for something they are ill-prepared for. Their naïveté allows the film to incorporate humor, particularly in its satirical take on those in higher command. Chloë Sevigny and Tim Heidecker play the two main officials overseeing the simulated city of Atropia, and though their screen time is limited, they make the most of it. Some of their scenes even feel like a Tim & Eric sketch, thanks to the script’s absurdity. Additionally, the film includes a surprise cameo from a well-known actor—one that lands best if you go in unaware.

Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner lead the film, and as expected, they deliver strong performances. Their chemistry builds naturally, evolving into a romantic connection as they face mounting challenges. As the film progresses, we gain insight into their personal struggles, but more significantly, the cultural divides that define them. Turner plays a U.S. soldier who was previously deployed and now participates in this hyper-realistic simulation as an Iraqi soldier. Meanwhile, Shawkat portrays a dedicated actor helping the U.S. military rehearse for an invasion—one that targets her own family’s homeland.

Though not a home run, Atropia is a thoroughly engaging watch. It takes itself seriously, but never too seriously. It’s goofy, over the top, and, in the end, successfully delivers its message. I enjoyed it, but it’s a one-and-done film for me—I’m glad I watched it, but I probably won’t revisit it.

Final Score: 3.5/5