Watch Little Athens

Little Athens is a coming-of-age independent film that tells the intertwined stories of three sets of characters in a small town in Georgia. The movie takes place over the course of one day, during which these characters’ lives collide and intersect in unexpected ways. The film was directed by Tom Zuber and written by Jeff Zuber.

The first set of characters includes Carter (John Patrick Amedori) and his best friend, Jimmy (Jack Anthony), who are two aimless, pot-smoking teens who spend most of their time hanging out, getting into trouble and trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. When they’re not skipping school, they work together at a local bowling alley, where Carter flirts with a cute waitress named Ashley (Erica Leerhsen).

The second set of characters includes a trio of criminals: Ronnie (Shawn Hatosy), his girlfriend, Tara (Michelle Horn) and his dim-witted cousin, Danny (DJ Qualls). Ronnie and Tara are methamphetamine addicts who are trying to score some cash so they can get out of town and start a new life together. To do this, they decide to rob a local drug dealer named Manny (Jorge Garcia), who is also connected to several of the other characters in the film.

The third set of characters includes a lonely, divorced woman named Heather (Rachel Miner) and her brother, Derek (Michael Peña), who has just been released from prison. Heather is struggling to raise her young daughter, and is desperate for a connection with someone. Derek, on the other hand, is trying to stay out of trouble and get his life back on track, but he’s constantly tempted by his old criminal associates.

As the day wears on, the lives of these characters begin to collide and intersect in unexpected ways. When Ronnie and Tara attempt to rob Manny, they unwittingly set off a chain of events that affects all of the other characters in the film. Meanwhile, Carter and Jimmy find themselves caught up in the drama when they stumble upon the robbery in progress, and Heather and Derek get involved when Derek rekindles his friendship with Manny.

At its core, Little Athens is a film about people who are struggling to find their way in life, and who are confronting the consequences of their choices head-on. The movie touches on themes of addiction, love, family, and the search for meaning and purpose, and it does so with a gritty realism that makes the characters feel authentic and relatable.

The film’s performances are strong all around, with standout turns from Michael Peña as the conflicted Derek, Shawn Hatosy as the desperate Ronnie, and Rachel Miner as the vulnerable Heather. The direction by Tom Zuber is assured, with a deft handling of the film’s various storylines and an eye for detail that brings the small town setting to life.

Overall, Little Athens is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film that offers a compelling look at the lives of its diverse characters. While it can be a bleak and unsettling experience at times, it ultimately offers a message of hope and redemption that will stay with audiences long after the credits roll.