Atropia

If you’ve ever read Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, you’re probably familiar with his 10,000-hour theory. If you haven’t, the idea is simple: put in 10,000 hours of focused practice and you’ll become an expert at just about anything. And honestly, that tracks. Put that much time into something and, yeah, practice probably does make perfect. The U.S. military clearly believes this, judging by the amount of training they do. But there’s a very specific kind of preparation they rely on for invasions and overseas operations. Hailey Gates’s new film Atropia takes that idea and builds a story around it—literally—by focusing on a fabricated town designed to prepare soldiers for life on the ground.

It’s 2006, and sitting in the middle of the California desert is a village that looks like it belongs in Afghanistan rather than where it actually is. There’s a simple reason for that: it’s a training ground for U.S. troops heading overseas. The town is populated by people who, day after day, play assigned roles meant to reflect the environment soldiers will encounter. One of them is Fayruz (Alia Shawkat), a wannabe actor constantly chasing her big break. She thinks that moment might finally arrive when a “big” actor shows up to prepare for a role—but things don’t exactly go as planned. What she does find instead is a new character to play opposite: Abu Dice (Callum Turner), and the two become involved.

Things quickly get complicated. Fayruz is hiding a secret, and when she and Abu are captured together, they stage an escape that draws unwanted attention from the military. The result sends Abu back for his third tour, while “The Box,” as the town is called, just keeps right on training.

Written and directed by Hailey Gates, Atropia attempts to juggle drama, satire, and romance—and it handles some of those better than others. The dramatic elements hit the least, but Gates is far more successful when she leans into absurdist and dark comedy, exposing the hypocrisy and moral contradictions baked into this kind of training. Originally conceived as a documentary, the film still carries a strong sense of research and authenticity, which gives much of it a grounded feel. You can tell Gates has a lot on her mind, and while Atropia doesn’t always stick the landing, she mostly pulls it off.

At its best, Atropia blends existential questions with absurdity, offering a sharp, open-ended perspective on war. Not everything works, but when it does, it’s thanks to the symbolic imagery, the dark humor, and especially the cast. Shawkat and Turner lead the film with ease, and their chemistry gives the story its emotional anchor. Their moments together—trying to cope with what exists both inside and outside “The Box”—are easily the film’s strongest.

Where Atropia struggles most is when it shifts into heavier thematic territory, though it’s clear why those elements are there. Gates doesn’t quite reach the heights she’s aiming for, but her voice is confident, and there are real flashes of brilliance throughout. In the end, it’s that voice—and the performances—that keep Atropia afloat. And as someone who loves a good war satire, I can say this one is flawed, but compelling, and ultimately worth a view.