Athena

 

Athena (8.5/10)
Genre: Drama/Action
Director: Romain Gavras
Cast: Dali Benssalah, Sami Slimane, Anthony Bajon
Country: France
Language: French
Year: 2022

Hate will lead to violence, and violence will lead to destruction until it engulfs everything, including ourselves. Athena is now one of my favorite films of 2022, and it is a contemporary masterpiece and a glorious achievement in filmmaking. It is hard to miss even a microsecond of this movie, and after a long time, I have witnessed something imposing yet unsettling.

Athena reminded me of Mathieu Kassovitz's La Haine if done in a contemporary style without nonsensical elements of commercial cinema. Yes, there is plenty of violence, hatred, racism, religious undercurrents, and oppression which may not suit the average audience looking for relief from the same. Sadly the reality is even harsher when portrayed right on the screen, and Athena does this in every frame. 

Athena uses long takes, even though stitched on occasion, but done with so much brilliance it is hard to notice the cutting points on most occasions. Right from the beginning, this movie starts with one of the most memorable sequences giving you a taste of the film's treatment and subject. The plot deals with the oppression against minorities and the politics behind it leading to violent protests, something we frequently observe these days, yet we fail to see the larger picture. The metaphors and philosophies have deep meaning if we turn a blind eye to violence and hate. 

The story is about three siblings surviving the odds in the middle of violent protests in a small French district after their little brother is murdered by the police. 

Romain Gavras' sensibilities, technical choices, and direction creates one of the best films of 2022 (the ones I have seen). He is also the co-writer in this film. Another important aspect of this movie is the acting, the actors don't disappoint, especially Dali Benssalah and Sami Slimane. Their performances are worth every praise they deserve. 

This movie is incomplete without Matias Boucard's cinematography, Benjamin Weill's editing, and the entire sound team. The special effects are remarkable, there are no alien spaceships or monsters, but they play an indispensable role in creating reality instead of a make-believe world. 

It is impossible to appreciate the brilliance of this film with a single watch, and I'll be sure to watch it again in the future as a lesson in modern-day filmmaking without compromising on aesthetics. Athena is a must-see film, and perhaps one of the best films released this year.