Nappaland's MovieBlog

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ATONEMENT (R)

Plot Summary: A young couple falls in love, and then must live for years separated by the lie of a young girl.

Reason for the Rating: Disturbing war images, language and some sexuality

Atonement is a film beautifully shot, acted, edited, and directed. It’s a story that is woven from different points of view, drawing the audience in, and leaving them feeling disconcerted.

The movie begins in the time between the two world wars in England. Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) is thirteen, and a blossoming novelist. She, her sister, Cecelia (Keira Knightly), and their mother (Harriet Walker) live a comfortable life in a beautiful mansion with manicured lawns. The housekeeper’s son, Robbie (James McAvoy), an Oxford educated young man, is also working on the property, but with plans to attend medical school. 

The story is told in three acts. The first act sets the stage, not only in location and time period, but also in revealing the problem that must be solved in the remainder of the movie. Events are set in motion by Briony, who, having written a new play, has spent a frustrating day attempting to secure the assistance of her cousins in acting out her drama for the evening’s entertainment. While taking a break, Briony sees an interaction between Cecelia and Robbie that she finds confusing. First, we see the situation from Briony’s point of view, and then are shown the true context of the interaction between Cecelia and Robbie. It’s nothing what Briony imagines, but a disagreement nonetheless.

Later that afternoon, in an attempt to smooth things over with Cecelia, Robbie asks Briony to deliver a note of apology before dinner that night. Unfortunately, the note Briony delivers is not the one Robbie intended for Cecelia to receive. In an additional unfortunate event, Briony reads the note, which is laden with sexual references, leading her to see Robbie in a different light. As a result of these, and other, events that day Briony makes a decision to tell a falsehood about Robbie that changes their lives for a very long time.

Oh, and did I mention that Robbie and Cecelia are in love? An important fact, and something of which Briony is not aware of at the time.

The second part of the movie begins several years later, with Robbie attempting to leave war torn Northern France, Cecelia in London as a nurse, and Briony (played by (Romola Garai) in nurses training. The love of Cecelia and the hope of seeing her again are what keep Robbie seeking a way home. Briony realizes the mistake she made all those years ago, and wishes she could undo her lie and bridge the chasm that now lies between her and her beloved sister.

The third act is Briony as an older woman (Vanessa Redgrave), being interviewed upon the publishing of her final book. It is here that we learn the full truth of her story. A truth that has left her troubled for the whole of her life.

Cinematically speaking, this is an amazing movie. The characters have depth and are well-acted. The cinematography and editing are breathtaking. There is a scene in the movie on the beach of Dunkirk, when Robbie is attempting to find a boat to return to England, that is a continuous shot of four minutes in length. It’s pretty remarkable, really. Additionally, the music was unique. I’ve never heard the typewriter used as a percussion instrument before, but I must say I enjoyed it.

While Atonement is noteworthy in many technical respects, it’s not a movie that leaves you feeling entertained and relaxed. Some of the scenes are long, and the story leaves the viewer feeling troubled from the beginning.

MOVIEBLOG RECOMMENDS:

While Atonement has been billed as a romance, it is definitely not a feel-good movie. If you’re thinking it will be like seeing Keira Knightly in another Pride and Prejudice you would be mistaken. Atonement is troubling and a movie that will create deeper questions than you anticipated. See it with friends or family that can process this type of movie. Additionally, the “c word” is used, although never spoken, and there is one sexually charged scene.

AFTER THE SHOW: 

• Did Briony’s final act make atonement for her earlier lie?

• Which would have brought you greater resolution: Cecelia and Robbie both dying, or Cecelia living without Robbie for the rest of her life?

• How would Briony’s life have been different if she had experienced the forgiveness of Cecelia?

• Tell about an experience when forgiveness gave you freedom.

JW

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Note: All movie-related graphics in this column are standard publicity/promotional shots and are owned by their respective movie studios. 

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