Lost Romance

Rating: 10/10 (23 June 2012)

The meaning of atonement is always ones quest for redemption, forgiveness and salvation for others, no matter how long it goers on even a lifetime it is an important mission that must always be complete for the happiness of others as well as ones own.
This film is one of the most emotionally moving and tragic film's I've ever seen. Joe Wright whom directed "Pride and Prejudice" (film I love and previously reviewed) knows how to make a romance film right.
The theme in the film is about lost romance. A romance that gets robbed by two people Robie Turner (flawlessly played by James McAvoy) and Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightly equally brilliant)that obviously deserve and belong to each other, both have done no wrong except love each other. All of this because of one grave misunderstanding by one person Briony Tallis (played at different ages by Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, and Vanessa Redgrave) and as we see all three try to reclaim that lost romance, but it is tragically out of reach.
One of the brilliant things about this film is how we see the film is broken up into split focus which creates that sense of mystery throughout the film and makes the drama all the more emotional. We get down tot he perspective of Cecilia and Robbie. We just love both of these characters. Cecilia is just a bit stuck up but in a good way, spunky, constantly has criticism that can be a bit unforgiving, but has a sense of warmth to her. Robbie we see is like your usual good guy; he's an underdog, has a dry charismatic charm, a bit on the shy side but never short of courage when it comes to feelings. We can see despite class and character differences their right for one another, and personally I feel that's part of what love is it shouldn't matter who a person is whether in class, race, religion, or any other feature it's the feelings both share for one another that matter. The scenes with them are in a way blissful and beautiful, even the shots of that countryside really reflect the innocence of the romance between the two. The fountain scene we see both are exchanging romantic tension and banter, it seems like arguing Celilia is constantly trying to get a rise out of Robbie while Robbie teases her a bit, it's obviously this interplay has gone on for some time, I can't help but sense Ceilia might have had a crush on him since childhood well that's my theory anyway. We know from the way they look at one another throughout the ordeal that in reality they have deep feelings for one another, once Cecilia is soaked and both look at one another their fate is already sealed. It was also great when we saw another scene with them, when Cecilia got the wrong letter Robbie wrote, Robbie as he's coming to see her tries to apologize it's just funny from how nervous he is. But of course Cecilia does believe him and this leads to a scene I thought was romantic and erotic.
It was just sad and unfair when we see their romantic interplay robbed as both get torn away and of course we see both are trying to come back together. From Robbie in the war, resulting in some brilliant shots which add to the emotional weight, one shot which was memorable to me was seeing Robbie go down a bunker and see there is a French romance film playing, he looks at it and of course cries because he feels that Cecilia and their future together after the war could be further out of reach.
The of course we would see things unfold in Briony's point of view which as we see is not completely reliable. The truth is presented to us but not the whole truth, because she never sticks around long enough to get all of the facts. Like a fountain scene she mistakenly thinks it's Robbie being rude in a way to her sister, but may'be just a bet if jealously intermixed since Briony herself has a crush on him. Her interpretation of that incident is unreliable because we can't hear anything from where she's positioned plus there is some time that's missing, this weakness of course leads to the downfall in Robbie, Cecilia, and herself, making her feel misery for her own grave sin.
What is missing from her point of view makes this all the more sadder because it reflects Briony's life and quest which is incomplete throughout the film. Like when she goes to a wedding, we don't see who they are, most of that wedding we see a shot of how Briony is viewing it, it's a wanting look she wishes this was Cecilia and Robbie's wedding which it really should of been.
It all comes down to the final part of the film which always breaks me heart, when we see Vanessa Redgrave's appearance as an elder Briony, I'll just say what she says at the end will haunt you forever.
Robbie and Cecilia will live in my heart forever, even I want to believe their romance has returned.
Rating: 4 stars