Memento International Boards Luca Guadagnino-Produced War Comedy ‘Atropia’ Starring Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner (EXCLUSIVE)

Memento International has boarded “Atropia,” the directorial feature of “Uncut Gems” actor Hailey Gates which is produced by “Queer” director Luca Guadagnino. The war comedy stars Alia Shawkat (“Blink Twice”), Callum Turner (“Masters of the Air”), Chloë Sevigny (“Bonjour Tristesse”) and Tim Heidecker (“Tim & Eric”). 

Guadagnino is producing at Frenesy Films, along with Naima Abed and Emilie Georges at Paradise City and Lana Kim and Jett Steiger for Ways & Means. Executive producers include director Hailey Gates and actress Alia Shawkat, along with David Siegel, Scott McGehee and Mike Spreter for Big Creek Projects and KC Wallace for Mary of Exeter.

The feature is based on Gates’ 2019 short “Shako Mako” which she originally produced for fashion brand Miu Miu’s Women’s Tales series. UTA and WME Independent are handling North American sales. 

Set against the backdrop of the Mojave Desert at the Fort Irwin National Training Center, “Atropia” tells the story of Fayruz, an aspiring actress who is working on a U.S. military base, in a fake country called Atropia. “When she meets Abu Dice, an experienced soldier playing the role of an insurgent, their romance quickly threatens their respective ambitions and questions their allegiance to the military and Atropia’s purpose. Set on the eve of  Bush’s “surge”, the bloodiest year of the war, Atropia is a comedic love story cast against a uniquely absurd American backdrop,” reads the synopsis.

Gates said, “It’s always baffled me that when it comes to the Vietnam war, we are drowning in important
anti-war films made by the greatest directors of the era.”

“But when it comes to the Iraq war, there is a noticeable hole where movies are meant to be! I am still overwhelmed by the extraordinary cast and crew of collaborators that have leant themselves to Atropia and while this film may not be the obvious approach to a war film, I hope this military-industrial
complex comedy is a meaningful contribution to this lonely cannon.”

Shawkat, meanwhile, said “Hailey’s sharp satirical wit was a joy to bring to life. I’m excited for people to laugh and cry at Atropia’s glimpse into our highly dysfunctional war machine.”

Memento International described “Atropia” as a “smart, topical satire set in 2006 that resonates deeply today.” The company is pitching the movie as an “exuberant, audience-engaging film whose screwball comedy and romance underscore a profound commentary on war and society.”

Gates is repped by WME and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz. Alia Shawkat is repped by UTA, MGMT Management, Viewpoint and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Feldman, Rogal, Shikora & Clark. Turner is repped by WME, Curtis Brown and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Kole. Sevigny is repped by WME and Circle Management and Production.