Passion, Truth, Repentance, Atonement

Rating: 10/10 (17 January 2008)

This is a lovely film with incredible acting by characters who never leave you. The setting is England in 1935, a country estate, right before WWII.
"Atonement," based on the novel could have been a very pessimistic, sad affair because of the unfair accusation against Robbie, the son of the family's housekeeper. It never is, though, because the passion between the leads, Keira Knightly playing Celia and McCvoy, as Robbie, is so human and redeeming.
This is a beautiful movie, which begs to be seen again. There are many nuances not caught the first time which the second time can explain better.
The young girl, Briony, who makes the false accusation suffers her entire life for ruining her sister's and Robbie's lives. She was only 13 at the time,with an overactive imagination, burgeoning hormones, and equal parts innocence and spite. Her emotions overtake her--resulting in tragedy. In the end. the book she writes names names and gives her sister and her lover the happy ending they never had.
Definitely a keeper, "Atonement" is an excellent film of the highest caliber.