A vibrant epic

Rating: 8/10 (6 August 2008)

Jealousy and lie are part of almost all romantic tragedies, but the conclusion is that Atonement has carved out a niche for itself. Based on the popular novel of the same name, which swept many critical applauds; its movie version also manages to make audiences around to attach themselves with the character. The story of a lie, that dramatically changed the lives of people around it, will take you across a decade of human tragedy in Europe and the personal tragedy of the three protagonists. The strong performances by the all star cast lead by Robbie McCoy and Keira knightly adds luster to the already formidable written work. But a word of praise cannot be missed for the young Miss Ronan playing the character of young Briony Tallis. Her striking eyes and facial expression showing range of emotions along with a tinge of innocence shadows over every other performing artist in the rather long first act of the movie.
The story unfolds during the beginning of the 2nd world war in a large English estate of the Tallis family. The family includes a rather stressed mother along with two daughters, played by kiera knightly (elder) who is busy with her awkward attraction for the servant's boy Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) who has a hidden love for Cecilia Tallis (Keira). Little does he know that his harmless show of his desires for Cecilia would turn his life upside down? And off course the young Miss Saoirse Ronan's character Briony Tallis, which in the next two acts of the story, set in separate periods of her life, is played by two other actresses. In Cecilia's own words, Briony has a fanciful imagination, which threatens to destroy everything around her. Not that briony is a spoilt rich child, but she is innocent and also has feelings for Robbie, which creates a jealous trait as she witnesses Robbie locked passionately with her elder sister before a dinner gathering of her family to celebrate the arrival of the two sister's brother along with his friend, who has a rather questionable character features. As that particular dines begins, an untoward chain of events begins to roll, which leads to Briony witnessing a forceful sexual act over her visiting cousin in pitch black darkness by a unknown person. But as the entire days events take a toll over Briony she concludes that Robbie is the guilty person. Her one false claims leads to Robbie being imprisoned for four years and then later driven into France to fight the war. Knightely abandons her family and leaves for London to serve in the war as a nurse, while keeping her relationship with Robbie alive. As Briony grows up, she starts to get the feel of the consequences of her is mistake.
What transpires in the next acts of the film is the atonement Briony tries to find for her deeds. The movie moves along in swift pace after the first act. Miss Knightly do not have much of dialogues in the film, she rather makes an efficient use of her expressive face. Robbie holds himself and the movie strongly in many mono acts during his time in war. As mentioned earlier Briony played by young Ronan goes away with most applauds, while the other two actresses have very little space to evolve as they just end up taking leads from Miss Ronan. It is not just the three strong characters that make this movie worth watch, it is also the cinematography of the film especially prolong sequence of the Dunkirk evacuation which catches the audience breathless. In the end the movie does not deviate from its subject and concludes exactly like the fanciful imagination of Briony Tallis with reality firmly places around it.