Netflix has premiered an in-depth making-of video for “Athena,” Romain Gavras’ acclaimed action-tragedy feature that begins with a much talked about twelve-minute single-take opening sequence.
The film is set in a French suburb which descends into chaos in the wake of the brutal murder of the youngest of four Algerian brothers in an alleged police altercation.
It begins with police press conference about the incident with the camera following as the escalating violence pours out onto the street and moves to a council estate two miles away as the mass protest against the cops transforms the community of Athena into a fortress under siege.
A camera tracks actors through fiery rooms, down stairs, switching the rigs between van and bike, with the cameraman even lifted into the air by crane at one point above a massive crowd. Around 80% of the film was reportedly shot on IMAX which only adds to the difficulty of filming.
Set against a fraught socio-political landscape, the film deals with the plight of the deceased’s brothers – one a decorated soldier in the French Army, one a drug dealer, and one an outraged community leader.
“Athena” is currently streaming on Netflix. Check out the clip and the film’s trailer below.
