Zamperini was a real person whose incredible life story the film depicts. The portrayal of his youth, Olympic career, wartime survival, and POW experiences closely follows Laura Hillenbrand's biography, with minor dramatic license.

Phillips was the real pilot of the Green Hornet and survived the crash and raft journey alongside Zamperini. His portrayal as composed and loyal is accurate.

McNamara was the real third survivor on the raft. His actions (like eating the initial chocolate rations) and death at sea are depicted accurately according to Zamperini's account.

Watanabe was a real Japanese Army sergeant notorious for his brutal and obsessive abuse of prisoners, particularly Zamperini, at Ōmori and Naoetsu camps. His portrayal reflects Zamperini's detailed accounts of his cruelty.

Pete Zamperini was Louie's real brother who recognized his athletic potential and encouraged his running, playing a crucial role in his early life, as depicted accurately.

Louie's real father.

Zamperini did have a difficult youth involving petty crime before channeling his energy into running, encouraged by his brother Pete.

Zamperini competed in the 1936 Olympics, finishing 8th but running a remarkably fast final lap that caught attention (though the film omits Hitler explicitly requesting to meet him, which is debated).

Zamperini served as a bombardier on B-24 Liberators during WWII, participating in bombing missions against Japanese targets like Nauru.

The B-24 Zamperini was on during a search-and-rescue mission suffered mechanical failure and crashed into the Pacific Ocean.

Zamperini and Phillips miraculously survived 47 days adrift on a life raft in the Pacific, enduring starvation, thirst, storms, sharks, and Japanese strafing, setting a record for survival at sea.

Francis McNamara, the third initial survivor, died after about 33 days adrift at sea.

After 47 days, Zamperini and Phillips reached the Marshall Islands and were immediately captured by the Japanese Navy.

Zamperini was held in several brutal POW camps, including Ōmori near Tokyo and Naoetsu in northern Japan, enduring horrific conditions.

Zamperini's detailed accounts (from the book) describe constant beatings, starvation, forced labor, psychological torture, and sadistic abuse, particularly from Watanabe ("The Bird").

Watanabe seemed to fixate on Zamperini, subjecting him to relentless and personalized torment, possibly due to his status as an officer and former Olympian.

This iconic scene, where Watanabe forces the weakened Zamperini to hold a heavy wooden beam for an extended period under threat of death, is based directly on Zamperini's account.

Zamperini recounted being forced to race against Japanese guards, who would beat him if he won or lost deliberately.

Zamperini was taken to Radio Tokyo and pressured to make propaganda broadcasts against the US; he refused despite potential rewards and threats.

Zamperini endured over two years of captivity and abuse until Japan's surrender and the liberation of POWs in August/September 1945.

Represents Zamperini's hometown environment during his youth, capturing the feel of suburban California in that era.

Recreates the atmosphere and scale of the Nazi-hosted Olympic Games, including the stadium and race event.

Represents the typical environments of American air bases in places like Hawaii and Funafuti from which B-24 missions were flown.

Effectively portrays the vastness, isolation, and dangers (sun, storms, sharks) of the open ocean environment where the survivors were adrift.

While filmed elsewhere (Australia), the sets effectively recreate the grim, crowded, and primitive conditions of Japanese POW camps based on historical accounts and photos (barracks, fences, coal barges).

The depiction of the B-24's interior during combat missions, including the bombardier's station, and exterior views appear accurate based on historical aircraft designs.

Costumes, hairstyles, vehicles, radios, and other technology accurately reflect the specific time periods depicted, from pre-war America to WWII.

The film successfully contrasts the different atmospheres: youthful ambition, the tension and chaos of air combat, the desperation of survival at sea, and the brutal oppression of the POW camps.

Accurately portrays the known harsh realities of Japanese POW camps: forced labor (e.g., coal barges), near-starvation diets, lack of medical care, and poor sanitation contributing to disease.