Atonement

Reed Van Dyk’s impressive first feature returns to the early days of the Iraq War and to a single moment that changes the lives of people on both sides of the conflict. During a firefight in Baghdad, a split-second decision by a U.S. Marine results in the deaths of members of an Iraqi family. Years later, still haunted by what happened, he seeks out Mariam, the surviving matriarch of the family. Van Dyk, whose short film DeKalb Elementary was nominated for an Academy Award, tells the story through the perspectives of the soldier, the family and the journalist, creating a deeply human drama about guilt, loss and the distance between seeking atonement and the possibility of forgiveness. Inspired by a true story, the film premiered in Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim.