At the prestigious Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Danish actors Dar Salim and Trine Dyrholm sat down to discuss their compelling portrayals of characters grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their latest works, Hercules Falling and The Danish Woman. Both actors have taken on the challenge of highlighting the unseen battles faced by those who have been to war, offering audiences a rare glimpse into the personal stories often overlooked.Hercules Falling: A Layer Deeper into the Soldier’s PsycheDirected by Christian Bonke, Hercules Falling stars Salim as Youssef, a war veteran whose past experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq haunt him. This feature uniquely integrates real veterans, transforming their authentic stories into a narrative account, providing a deeper insight into the struggles soldiers endure long after their service ends. Salim shared, “The use of real veterans gives this movie a special layer,” adding that the film’s storytelling through genuine experiences allows a more profound connection with the audience.According to The Hollywood Reporter, this film transcends traditional war narratives, fostering empathy and understanding through its documentary elements intertwined within a fictional framework. The film’s setting on Denmark’s island of Strynø, at a retreat center run by PTSD survivors, enhances this authenticity.The Danish Woman: Blending Strength with VulnerabilityTrine Dyrholm leads The Danish Woman, portraying Ditte Jensen, a retired Danish Secret Service agent settling into civilian life. Her transition from an elite warrior to a community helper in Reykjavik taps into her soldier past, layered with flashbacks that capture her PTSD struggles. The character’s composite of traits, described as a blend of Napoleon and Pippi Longstocking, introduces a complex view of heroism met with internal conflict. Dyrholm emphasizes the insightful preparation required to delve into such characters, drawing on diverse experiences to embody Jensen’s multifaceted persona.Real-Life Connections: Art Imitates LifeSalim, personally connected to the subject, reflected on his own displacement from Iraq to Denmark, offering a poignant perspective to his role. His life experience provides a genuine lens through which audiences can empathize with Youssef’s journey.It’s a heartening testament to the power of narrative in depicting the unseen scars left by conflict, not just among soldiers but within any personal tribulation. “This movie is about taking responsibility and facing the untold realities of those who feel broken,” Salim explained.Inspiration Beyond the ScreenBoth actors have received substantial feedback from veterans who find their stories represented on screen for the first time. Such engagement underscores the film’s impact, echoing beyond entertainment into a space of reflection and recognition. For Salim and Dyrholm, these roles mean infinitely more, serving as a call to audiences to recognize and appreciate the human elements of trauma recovery embedded in every veteran’s story.Through this heartfelt dialogue, Salim and Dyrholm epitomize the art of sensitive storytelling, affirming cinema’s role in bridging compassion and understanding of complex human experiences.