Atropia, a fictional town based on a real military training camp in Nevada, is the unique setting for Hailey Gates' directorial debut at the Sundance Film Festival this year. The film stars popular Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner and is set in an eerily realistic warzone, complete with crumbling structures, paranoia, and American troops on constant patrol, all of which is entirely fabricated for military training purposes.
Gates grew up hearing stories about these training camps and was drawn to the idea of creating a film around them. The military uses these mock towns to prepare soldiers for real-life battle conditions, complete with actors portraying townspeople, fog machines mimicking IED attacks, and even manufactured scents to replicate the smells of conflict.
The director spent years preparing for this film, before a challenge from friend and noted director Luca Guadagnino spurred her to write the script in just four weeks. The duo collaborated closely on the project, leading Guadagnino to come on board as a producer.
In the film, Shawkat plays a veteran performer in Atropia, persistently seeking authenticity in her roles within the staged battle scenarios. Her character crosses paths with Turner's character, a newcomer to the mock town, sparking a new intensity to their performances.
Real-life drama overlapped with filming when Shawkat announced her pregnancy, prompting script rewrites. Through collaborative creativity, the actor's comfort, and her close relationship with Turner, Gates says that her film took on an even richer depth.
The remarkably unique backdrop of Atropia and the compelling performances of its leading actors has made it a hallmark of this year's Sundance Film Festival. Gates' directorial debut proves that even the most unthinkable realms can be brought to life through cinematic storytelling.
