Romain Gavras is the director of the French film “Athéna”, produced by Netflix and which is located in the housing estate of the same name in Paris. The plot of the drama film centers on three brothers named Abdel, Mokhtar and Karim who each react in their own way to the death of their younger brother, Idir. Their i
deological differences culminate in a difficult family drama that unfolds against the backdrop of a civil war unfolding on the domain of Athena.
Through the animosity that exists between the brothers, the film tackles topics such as lawlessness, violence, and the harshness of the police. As a result, given the socio-political underpinnings of the story, audiences will likely be curious whether or not the film is based on real events. In this scenario, the following will provide all the information you need regarding the ideas that led to the creation of “Athena”.
Netflix’s Athena based on a true story
Is Athena a true story?
Athena is not based on an actual event, contrary to popular belief. The screenplay for the film was written by Elias Belkeddar, Romain Gavras and Ladj Ly, and it served as the basis for the film. The events of the story take place in the social realm known as Athena, located in Paris. The fight in this premise revolves around Karim, a rebel commander, and Abdel, a decorated soldier. Both Karim and Abdel seek answers regarding the death of their brother Idir, which appears to have been caused by police officers. The writers created a fictionalized account of the brothers and their efforts to exact revenge on the world.
The pic’s director and co-writer Romain Gavras opened up about the origins of the story during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Gavras also took part in writing the screenplay. “The concept of being part of the initial spark of what has the potential to become the first fire that would sweep through a nation as a contribution.” We decided very early on that we needed those formal storytelling qualities, which are ( a) the unit of time and the unit of place, and (a) a lot of clues and symbolic power for the images,” Gavras said. “Because I have always been influenced from my origins by tragedy Greek tragedy – you know, Greek tragedy was like bedtime stories in my family – we decided very quickly that we needed those formal storytelling qualities, because Greek tragedy was like bedtime stories. in my family.
Gavras revealed in the same interview that the titular council estate in the film is not based on an actual area of the city of Paris. Instead, the mansion is a work of fiction, and the name alludes to the film being inspired by Greek tragedies as well as Athena, the Greek goddess of protection and strategy. The film’s director indicated that while they were developing the plot, they were focusing on one incident that could spark a nationwide movement. The same is demonstrated in the film by the death of Idir, a young man who dies while in police custody. The event, on the other hand, is not based on any particular real-life incident. Instead, the story of Idir’s death and his brothers’ reaction is based on a combination of various real-life situations that served as loose inspiration.
Gavras used the technique of Greek storytelling, deeply rooted in family dynamics, to create an atmosphere that felt authentic. “When you look at the Greek Civil War, it’s something that the men in my family went through – it’s like grandfather versus grandfather; cousin versus cousin,” Gavras said, explaining the film’s themes of families. “When you look at the Greek Civil War, that’s something the men in my family experienced.” Because it happens between members of the same family, it’s the worst. According to what he said, “it’s why we took the closeness of a family that was torn apart, where their pain spills out into the neighborhood and ultimately the whole country.”
In the end, the film “Athena” is not based on any real event or character. It is a work of fiction that examines the ideological divisions caused by the Civil War through the prism of family unity, and it was influenced by the conventions of Greek tragedy. The film also offers a profound social commentary on modern society and the fragility of its situation. The conflicts and acts of violence that take place in the fictional domain of Athena are meant to symbolize the myriad problems that exist in the real world. The breathtaking visual aesthetic and depiction of terror, anarchy and persecution contribute to the captivating story’s ability to hold the audience’s attention. The plot, on the other hand, remains grounded in reality through its subjects and the engrossing family drama it presents, allowing viewers to connect with the subject on an emotional level.
Athena (2022 movie)
Romain Gavras is the director of the French tragic film Athéna, which will be released in 2022. Dali Benssalah, Sami Slimane, Anthony Bajon, Ouassini Embarek and Alexis Manenti are among the actors who have been asked for roles in this production.
The film debuted at the 79th Venice International Film Festival, where it also competed for the Golden Lion award.
| Athena | |
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| Realized by | Romain Gavras |
| Scenario of |
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| Featuring |
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| Cinematography | Matias Boucard |
| Edited by | Benjamin Well |
| Music by | Generation8ion |
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Production |
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| Distributed by | netflix |
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Release date |
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| Country | France |
| Languages | |
Ground
The story takes place in a French suburb and focuses on the struggle of the brothers of the deceased, Karim, Moktar and Abdel. The story involves the chaos that breaks out in a neighborhood known as Athena following Idir’s violent execution and takes place in that neighborhood.
Romain Gavras is the director of the French tragic film Athéna
Cast
Dali Bensalah as Abdel
Sami Slimane as Karim
Jerome is played by Anthony Bajon.
Ouassini Embarek as Moktar
Alexis Manenti as Sebastien
Production
Iconoclast and Lyly are responsible for the production of the film. It was shot in 2021 in the city of Évry-Courcouronnes, located in the suburbs of Paris. There are conversations in French and Arabic throughout this one.
Exit
The 79th Venice International Film Festival was the venue for the film’s first public screening. It will first premiere in “selected” theaters on September 9, 2022, followed by a release on Netflix’s streaming service on September 23, 2022. Netflix will serve as the film’s distributor.
Reception
On the website that aggregates reviews, Rotten Tomatoes, eighty percent of reviews from fifteen reviewers are good, with an average rating of seven out of ten. The film received a rating of 76 out of a possible 100 on review aggregation website Metacritic, which uses a weighted average to determine ratings. This number represents “generally good reviews”.
The film was described by David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter as “unnerving, intense and explosive”. He also called the film “a living grenade, starting in full ignition mode and building its intensity throughout with virtuoso technique.”
Writer Todd McCarthy of Deadline Hollywood described the film as “a torrent, a flood, a cascade of anger, fury and frustration at the realities of life for a particular group of French families”. He also said the film “grabs you by the throat and barely leaves you a moment for a breath of air”.
The film received a C+ grade from IndieWire’s David Ehrlich, who described it as “just a pretty cool movie about a country that’s ready to burn” and said it “would have been more gruesome and succeeded if he had truly embraced the courage to [the anger of the dispossessed].”
Athena “works better as a loud, immersive action extravaganza than a thought-provoking political thriller,” according to ScreenDaily’s Tim Grierson.
The film was given a three out of five star rating by Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian. He said the film was highlighted by “a breathtaking opening”, but also lost “its dramatic form” afterwards.
