Atonement, the debut feature from filmmaker Reed Van Dyk, was one of the few American titles this year at Cannes. 

Inspired by true events, the film is set during the early days of the Iraq War, when a U.S. Marine’s split-second decision during a firefight devastates an Iraqi family. Years later, aided by a New Yorker journalist, the Marine seeks to reconcile with the woman and her family who survived. 

The film stars Kenneth Branagh and Hiam Abbass alongside Boyd Holbrook and Gheed, who joined Van Dyk in Deadline’s studio ahead of the film’s debut in the Directors’ Fortnight competition in Cannes. 

“The film is inspired by a New Yorker piece, which I read 14 years ago now,” Van Dyk explained. “I was just a New Yorker reader and found myself crying through this non-fiction piece. I don’t know that I was able to articulate then what was so touching to me about it. But I did feel this pull to make it.” 

The New Yorker article was penned by journalist Dexter Filkins and is also titled Atonement. 

Van Dyk added: “I wasn’t in the position back then to make a film about it. But once I’d made some short films that had been seen, I started inquiring about rights to the article, and that started the journey.” 

Van Dyk produced the film alongside Trevor White, Tim White, David M. Wulf, and Steve Demmler. The film was being sold at Cannes by CAA Media Finance, WME, and The Veterans. 

Check out our full interview with Van Dyk, Boyd Holbrook, and Gheed above. 

The Deadline Studio at Cannes is sponsored by SCAD.