Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's (Keira Knightley) lover (James McAvoy) of a crime he did not commit. (Source:imdb.com)
The lover is Robbie Turner. A well heeled, educated young man who returns to the Tallis estate to aide his housekeeper mother with the groundskeeping. The crime is rape. Or rather, in keeping with the film's manipulation of perception and what we think we saw, the rape of a teenage family member. After young Briony believes that it was Robbie who acosted her female cousin, she immediately places blame on the young groundskeeper. Police are alerted, Robbie is arrested and in one fell swoop Robbie and Cecilia are torn apart because of this harrowing accusation.
Robbie is sent to prison and as WWII devastates France he is presented with a leave from imprisonment if he chooses to fight. As the war rages on and the years go by Robbie and Cecilia are driven further apart, yet their love and desire grows deeper and closer. Amid this heartbreaking journey is an older and slightly more mature Briony. Now 18, forgoing college to train as a nurse (possibly to atone for her wrongdoing as a child) and trying to come to terms with the horrendous mistake she made as a child. She wishes to make right with her sister and Robbie. And as the war ravages on, she may never get the chance.
We realize early on in Atonement that we are only getting partial information. One person's slanted perspective of events. That perspective belongs to young Briony Tallis. A 13 year old with a vivid imagination who spends her days at the family estate writing plays and eavesdropping on her older sister, Cecilia. It's a warped perception of partial information that leaves Briony dealing with issues of regret, guilt and a desire to make right for the duration of this film.
Atonement is a deeply heartbreaking tale of regret, wrong decisions and unfailing love. Both Soairse Ronan as young Briony and James McAvoy as Robbie deliver powerful and emotional performances that should surely get them recognized come awards season. (and even though Kiera Knightley spends most of the film smoking and pouting around the film, she's far more enjoyable here than on a pirate ship!)
Joe Wright's direction of the Christopher Hampton script (based on the Ian McEwan novel) never once belies that this is only his second outing behind the camera. His command of cinematic technique energizes a story that in modest hands would seem rote. The film is filled with an amazing style and pace, that never once gives us the entire picture of events, rather we see the reaction before the action, a move that only makes the sad outcome all the more heartbreaking. That this could've all been avoided with but a word. It's a sad tailspin that is reinforced by an awe-inspiring, seven minute, single take shot following Robbie and two soldiers as they stagger through the chaos and aftermath of war-torn Dunkirk. Soldiers await ships to relieve them from the battle, a choir of soldiers singing, thousands of wounded. Robbie staggers through it all wondering if he'll ever get back to his beloved Cecilia, to be in her arms again and start the romance they almost had before they were torn apart by accusations. It is a breath-taking scene of an already powerful film.
till next time,
Chaz