Fayruz is the star thespian of Atropia, a fake country the US military has devised for immersive training. Though she takes great pride in her work, Fayruz believes her tenure here is but a stepping stone on the way to an illustrious acting career in Hollywood. 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 in Iraq, “Atropia” is a comedic love story cast against a uniquely absurd American backdrop.

Winner of the best film award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival.