Torn apart by betrayal. Separated by war. Bound by love.|Sep. 07, 2007|United Kingdom | France | United States|123 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;Romance
Description: In 1935 England, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis, the youngest member of the affluent Tallis family, prepares to present a play she has written for an upcoming family event. Observing from her bedroom window, she witnesses an intense exchange between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the housekeeper’s son, whom Briony secretly admires. During a confrontation near the fountain, Robbie accidentally shatters a vase and urges Cecilia to remain still to avoid stepping on broken shards. Furious, Cecilia removes her outer clothing, glares at him, and steps into the fountain to retrieve a piece. Misinterpreting the situation, Briony believes Robbie commanded her sister to undress and enter the water.
Later, Robbie attempts to apologize to Cecilia by writing a letter. In one draft, he jokingly expresses his physical attraction to her in explicit terms, while the other is more formal. Accidentally handing Briony the inappropriate version, she reads it before passing it to Cecilia. Briony discusses the letter with her cousin, Lola, who labels Robbie as a “sex maniac.” Meanwhile, Paul Marshall, a guest and friend of Briony’s brother, shows interest in Lola. Before dinner, Robbie apologizes for the revealing letter, and Cecilia unexpectedly confesses her feelings for him. Their intimate moment in the library is interrupted by Briony, who mistakenly assumes Robbie is assaulting Cecilia.
During dinner, Lola’s twin brothers go missing, prompting a search. In the darkness outside, Briony witnesses what she believes is Lola being attacked by a man, who quickly escapes. Convinced that Robbie is the perpetrator, Briony’s misunderstanding begins to unravel a series of tragic events.
Cast director: Joe Wright
Cast actor: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronan, Brenda Blethyn, Vanessa Redgrave, Juno Temple, Benedict Cumberbatch, Harriet Walter, Alfie Allen
Original name: Atonement