Athena

Karim is driven by grief and rage over his younger brother Idir's death from police brutality. Rather than accepting Abdel's public appeal for calm and legal accountability, Karim chooses immediate violent retaliation. He leads a group of youths in throwing a Molotov cocktail and raiding the station, stealing weapons, tactical gear, and a police van to fuel an uprising in Athena.

Moktar, the drug dealer and half-brother to Abdel, exploits the riot as an opportunity to protect his contraband. He and his gang take shelter in Athena's shisha lounge and dig a hidden stash for their drugs, waiting for the unrest to subside so they can recover their inventory later.

Abdel organizes a shelter for Athena's residents at the daycare center and includes Sébastien, who served time in Syria for terrorism. Despite Sébastien's background, Abdel treats him as a civilian needing protection, demonstrating his commitment to safeguarding all residents regardless of their past.

The closing revelation shows that the three 'policemen' who brutally beat Idir were far-right provocateurs disguised in police uniforms. They recorded the beating inside a van, then burned their disguises to hide their identity. The attack was a calculated false flag designed to inflame racial tensions and spark violent conflict between the community and law enforcement.

The film hints at manipulated tensions from the start, with the true perpetrators remaining hidden until the final scene.

Abdel, as a trained soldier and the eldest brother, believes in pursuing justice through proper channels rather than vigilantism. He holds a press conference urging restraint and works to evacuate residents safely. In contrast, Karim seeks revenge through violence, and Moktar exploits the chaos for criminal gain. Abdel's military discipline and sense of responsibility clash with his brothers' more impulsive reactions.

Abdel makes a video call to the police commander while pointing his gun at the captured officer Jerôme and fires two shots, but he deliberately misses. This act appears to satisfy both the youths demanding execution and the commanders watching remotely, allowing Abdel to maintain his position while sparing Jerôme's life despite his rage over Karim's death.

Karim is shot dead when he lunges at the corrupt policemen recruited by Moktar to rescue Jerôme. Despite being warned that the arriving officers are allies, Karim attacks them in his relentless quest for revenge. His aggressive, vengeful approach proves fatal, and he dies in the confrontation, devastating Abdel.

After witnessing Karim's death, Abdel is overcome with emotional turmoil. He beats Moktar in rage, then takes custody of Jerôme. However, rather than using the officer as a bargaining chip, he deliberately fires wide and makes no attempt to stop Jerôme from fleeing as tactical forces close in. His brother's death breaks his will to continue the cycle of violence.

Sébastien contributes his knowledge of explosives, skills he likely acquired during his time in Syria, to help the youths resist the impending RAID assault. He engineers improvised bombs that destroy parts of the housing complex. While these bombs kill Abdel and several police officers, Sébastien acts out of desperation to defend the building against the military operation.

The violence escalates dramatically when Karim's group seizes weapons, tactical gear, and a police van from the station. This arsenal enables the youths to barricade Athena and mount a serious resistance against the CRS riot police. The police response, kettling, arrests, and aggressive advance, angers residents, while the youths' use of fireworks and improvised missiles transforms the suburb into a battlefield within hours.

Moktar reveals to Abdel that they are half-brothers, sharing the same father. This familial connection motivates him to assist Abdel during the crisis. He calls in corrupt police contacts to help rescue Jerôme and offers shelter in the shisha lounge, though his primary loyalty remains to protecting his criminal enterprise.

The CRS units advance on Athena but face fierce resistance from youths armed with stolen weapons, fireworks, and improvised missiles. During the chaos, young officer Jerôme becomes separated from his unit and is captured by the youths. The tactical pressure and loss of an officer cause the police to fall back, allowing the situation to devolve into an extended standoff.