Displaced from their home by U.S. military action during the early days of the Iraq War, the Khachaturian family finds refuge with relatives, gathering their three generations together under one roof. But when another bombing erupts nearby, they decide to return to their home across the city. As they navigate the war-torn streets of Baghdad, the family is trapped in a firefight between U.S. Marines and insurgents, and one Marine’s split-second decision devastates the family. Years later, haunted by his time in Iraq and aided by a New Yorker journalist, the Marine seeks to reconcile with the Khachaturian matriarch and her surviving family members.

Anchored by moving, unforgettable performances from Boyd Holbrook (NARCOS), Hiam Abbass (also in this year's THE ARAB), and Oscar-winner Kenneth Branagh, ATONEMENT is a powerfully human story about the immeasurable costs of war, exploring universal questions about guilt, redemption, and the nature of forgiveness. It’s also an amazingly assured feature debut from Reed Van Dyk, whose short film DEKALB ELEMENTARY (CIFF, 2017) was nominated for the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film.