The film Patriots Day is a docudrama based on the true events of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent manhunt. The core subject of the inquiry is the proper noun "Patriots Day," which refers to the 2016 movie directed by Peter Berg. The film's narrative is constructed from the non-fiction book Boston Strong: A City's Triumph Over Tragedy by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge, as well as extensive research and interviews with individuals involved in the real-life events.
While the film accurately depicts the timeline and major incidentsincluding the initial bombing, the investigation, the murder of MIT officer Sean Collier, a carjacking, and the final shootout in Watertownit employs narrative composite characters to streamline the story. The central protagonist, Boston Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders (portrayed by Mark Wahlberg), is a fictional composite. He was created to represent the perspectives and actions of multiple law enforcement officers who were on the ground during the crisis. In contrast, many other characters are based directly on real individuals, such as Police Commissioner Ed Davis, FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers, and Watertown Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese.
Therefore, the film's relationship with its source material is one of dramatization rather than pure documentary. It blends factual events, real archival footage, and depictions of actual victims and heroes with fictionalized storytelling elements, primarily the composite lead character, to present a cohesive and emotionally resonant cinematic account of a true story. The objective is to convey the factual essence and spirit of the city's response while using conventional narrative techniques.
