What Is the Story About?
Set in a French banlieue, Athena follows the chaos, political unrest and anti-police brutality uprising that erupts in a neighborhood known as Athena at the wake of the brutal killing of Idir, a 13 year old boy. The film focusses on hiw Idir’s surviving brothers Karim, Moktar, and Abdel handle the loss and get embroiled in the string of protests and ultimately a civil war in France.
Performances?
No Time To Die (2021) fame Dali Benssalah who plays Abdel is the main anchor of the film. Athena tracks down his trajectory from a soldier who placed his country first to someone who besides mourning for his deceased brother tries to protect his other brother Karim (Sami Slimane) who takes on the streets in protest to someone who takes charge of the entire protests to track his brother’s murderers. Hardly 30 minutes to the finale, the actor displays an appreciable range within him as an actor.
Analysis
The director Romain Gavras effortlessly takes on political action thriller genre after his successful stint with Crime comedy in the 2018 film ‘The World is Yours’ in this film.
The lengthy opening shot of the film itself gives an idea on how much finesse has gone into the making of Athena. This Romain Gavras directorial doesn’t let you breathe the moment you click play button. It directly pulls you into a world of consistent adrenaline rush and fireworks(metaphorically).
There are quite a few single tracking shots in the film giving you a whole 360 degree view of how the riots, resistance and oppression transpire. The entire 90 minute duration of the film is nerve wracking and restless. It’s chaotic and visceral at the same time. There’s so much happening around and all you know is that Idir has been beaten up and killed by the cops. People have taken to the streets to get him justice. Idir’s brother Karim is at the forefront of the civil war, while his other brothers Abdel and Moktar have different worries. Its a conflict of objectives amongst the three brothers that act as a fulcrum of the film largely.
While the film is technically brilliant in all ways and the action set pieces are gorgeously choreographed, the film suffers from a wafer thin plot syndrome. Now, its not necessary for every film to have a well round story to tell. Sometimes movies are more political. It’s about what transpired a certain set of events and what followed rather than what happened to who and who certain someones were. So, in that sense the narrative being wafer thin is justified. But its not a good look on the makers when certain characters deem important but are given so little to do to push the narrative ahead. Why is Moktar the way he is and why the four brothers (Idir included) had different dynamics with each other and why do they behave the way they do is sometimes unjustified. Its the flawed writing and nothing else.
Another drawback of the film, and the most important one at that is how the film ends. The closing shot of the film defeats the whole purpose, the narrative it was trying to build and the entire existence of the film as such. One would rather keep the film as it is and appreciate it subtracting the last few minutes for the exact same reason. Nevertheless, Athena is still a really good film and has almost perfect making behind it.
Other Artists?
There’s so much happening in the film and not everyone gets a scope to perform. But of the lot, besides Dani Benssalah the film is held together by a stubborn and vibrant performance from Sami Slimane. He makes Karim’s anger and impulsiveness way too believable. Anthony Bajon doesn’t have much acting scope in the film.
Music and Other Departments?
The background score by Gener8ion steals the cake and acts as scene elevators rightfully. Matias Boucard’s cinematography is a star in itself. The camera work is the most important takeaway from the film and its not just the tracking shots, but the sheer realism in its colour palette and absorption of people’s anger. Romain Gavras, Ladj Ly and Elias Belkeddar’s screenplay doesn’t fiddle as such, but the core story does.
Highlights?
Visceral making & direction
Action set-pieces
Cinematography
Consistently high pace
Lead Performance
Drawbacks?
Revelatory post climactic scene
Wafer thin plot/story
Not so many acting moments
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes Definitely
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
Athena Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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