ambivalent realities

Rating: 8/10 (26 January 2008)

I admit that I found this movie far too complex and full of upheavals than I could cope with. The idea of presenting the central-flawed heroine- in three different periods of her life was impressive and I admit that I was surprised by the final turn of events although I had a read a hint about that in a paper that I had not completely understood. As for the actors I am a fan of Keira Khightley and I admired her performance- she has I think found an idealtypus portraying upper class British girls with romantic leanings.The actress who played Briony was convincing in her role- I am referring to her as a young girl.I can not but point out that the scenes in the beach with the soldiers were heart-rending and were of Hogarthian power. I have such an ambivalent impression from this movie witch I think captures the real intricacies of actual life in times of political and social upheavals- a description that actually includes every age. The evocation of the English country side was fine and Keira Knightley swimming and diving was like Aprodite coming out of the waves although she was a more Anglo-Saxon Aphrodite that the known Mediterreanean one. I would recommend this movie also on the grounds that contrary to Hollywood cliché it does not presents the plot as a thriumph of good over evil. The real rapist marries the victim and becomes very successful largely because of the war, Robbie dies because of the war-as a soldier-which he became because he was falsely accused and Cecilia dies during the war- as many British people did due to an aerial bombardment.Briony is going to die because of illness but in an age that her death can not be consider as punishment for her sins. So reality is not valued in moral terms and the plot has evolution that defies conventional notions of just retribution and crime and punishment. The depiction of life in an English country house is also convincing and one might think that it could have been like that during the relevant age. I very much recommend this film which I found of great sophistication, British flair and moral ambivalence.