{
  "id": 7901894,
  "title": "How Kenneth Branagh and Boyd Holbrook Approached Playing Real-Life People in ‘Atonement’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/how-kenneth-branagh-and-boyd-holbrook-approached-playing-real-life",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-16T23:44:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/kenneth-branagh-boyd-holbrook-atonement-tiff-interview/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "\"Atonement\" is a film filled with genuine tragedy. In 2003, U.S. Marine Lou D’Alessandro (Boyd Holbrook) and his team open fire on two seemingly hostile vehicles in Baghdad. Regrettably, three passengers lose their lives before it's discovered that those vehicles were transporting members of a single family. Ten years later, Lou returns to San Diego, plagued by the incident, lacking support from Veterans Affairs, and unable to resume the life he once led before the war.\n\nThe story, based on a 2012 New Yorker article by Dexter Filkins, also features Mariam (Hiam Abbass), the family's matriarch, who starts a new life in California with her daughter and young family. Mariam is introduced to journalist Michael Reid (Kenneth Branagh), who was present in Baghdad during the tragedy. Lou approaches Michael in hopes of arranging a meeting with Mariam.\n\nReed Van Dyk, the film's writer-director and Oscar nominee for his live-action short \"DeKalb Elementary,\" discusses his approach to portraying real-life individuals as opposed to fictional characters. Abbass explains her preference for not meeting the individuals she portrays, focusing instead on bringing her emotional sensitivity to the fictional portrayal, thus giving the story a more authentic feel. Holbrook, on the other hand, reviewed extensive audio interviews with Lou and Reed's research, distilling emotional elements to infuse the performance with authenticity. Branagh, however, sought to meet Filkins to understand how the story came to light, the journalist's objectives, and the fortuitous nature of Filkins' discovery. He asked specifics about Filkins' methodology, which provided valuable insights for his portrayal.",
  "summary": "TIFF 2026: This harrowing drama is based on an actual incident from the Iraq War The post How Kenneth Branagh and Boyd Holbrook Approached Playing Real-Life People in ‘Atonement’ appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Deadline",
        "title": "‘Succession’ Star Hiam Abbass On How She Had “Real” Connections Working With Kenneth Branagh & Boyd Holbrook On ‘Atonement’ – TIFF",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/succession-star-hiam-abbass-on-how-she-had-real-connections-working",
        "published": "2026-09-17T01:23:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}