Film Review: Atonement (2007)

Review:
Atonement (a•tone•ment), noun, [uh-tohn-muh nt] satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends. This is what the word is defined as meaning according to www.dictionary.com. In the real word, it can have very grave consequences as is depicted in director Joe Wright's envisioning of the novel written by Ian McEwan. The setting is pre-world war II England, Europe (primarily France) during the war, and a studio stage 60 years later. Atonement is the story of young girl's naivety and how one bad choice can ruin the lives of others.

Briony Tallis is the innocent girl who sets thing in motion by accusing Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) that he molested a young girl who was staying at the family's estate. Earlier in the evening, it is revealed that Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and Robbie are in love with each other. They are discovered in a compromising position by Briony who earlier read a letter written by Robbie to Cecilia. Without getting into too much detail, two boys runaway from the house, are later found by Robbie, Briony stumbles upon her friend and an unknown older man fooling around in the brush, Briony tells the cops it was Robbie and he is sent to prison. Flash forward a couple years and WWII is in full swing. Robbie decides to join the war several years later rather than spending more time in jail.

Atonement follows the lives of our three central characters. Briony and her search for resolve, Cecilia and her longing to be with the man she loves, and Robbie who is thrust into a war with only to hope of reuniting with Cecilia. Three performers play the part of Briony: one actress as the 13 year old child, the second as an 18 year old nurse helping with the war wounded, and an older one played by Vanessa Redgrave. The acting is quite well done by all cast members. The set pieces fully depict pre-war England and Europe during the war. Will Robbie and Cecilia ever meet again or are they destined to never experience their love for one another.