ATONEMENT

Set in England in 1935, ATONEMENT is the story of a 13-year-old girl, Briony (Saoirse Ronan), who changes her family's lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit. It is a beautiful and tragic film, filled with so many lovely elements. The dramatic musical score (which, by the way, won an Academy Award) lent an air of storytelling by incorporating the rhythmic clicking of a typewriter in various scenes. An important element, since Briony was an aspiring writer, and also since it was a typed letter that changed the course of many lives. Visually, the film was elegant and dramatic, with the country estate giving us some of the most beautiful shots, and later, the war images that were very graphic and gut wrenching. Masterfully done, ATONEMENT made me feel a quiet sadness when it was over.

The pivotal scene of this tale is the one by the fountain - first shown from Briony's perspective, then again, as it actually happened. Briony observes her sister Cecilia (Keira Knightly) and Robbie, the housekeeper's son, (James MacAvoy) arguing by a fountain. She then sees Cecelia strip to her underwear, at which time Briony looks away. When she looks again, Cecilia is climbing out of the fountain. Cecilia and Robbie exchange words, then Cecelia storms away. Because of her youth, and maybe because she possesses the vivid imagination of a writer, Briony is confused by what she sees, so she misunderstands. In her naivety, she can't possibly know the sexual tension that exists between Robbie and Cecilia. What actually happened at the fountain was much different. Later, Robbie writes a note of apology for what really happened. But as he goes through several drafts trying to word it just right, he writes a sexually explicit letter - not meaning to give it. When he finally pens the perfect apology, he gives it to Briony to give to her sister. However, soon he realizes that he's given Briony the the wrong letter - the explicit one. But it's too late - she's gone. Briony, being curious, reads it. She pieces that together with the fountain incident, and decides that Robbie is some kind of "pervert". That evening, at the family's dinner party, Robbie and Cecelia meet, and admit that they are in love with each other, which leads to a passionate rendezvous in the library. As luck would have it, Briony walks in on them. Later at dinner, the family discovers that two young children are missing, and the guests all set out to search for them throughout the estate. In a remote corner, Briony stumbles upon her cousin Lola being raped by someone. She isn't sure, but thinks it must be Robbie - because of the letter, because of the fountain incident, and because she saw him on Cecelia in the library. She accuses him, he is arrested, and their lives are forever changed.

As I was watching James MacAvoy, I was thinking that he looked like a young Russell Crowe. Just then, Macy leaned over and whispered, "He looks like a young Russell Crowe". We couldn't place what movie we'd seen this young man in before, but soon discovered he is Mr. Tumnus! Yes, he played the fawn in NARNIA! (By the way, Macy recently went to see PENELOPE and he is in that too!)

At the end of the movie, we see Briony (played by Vanessa Redgrave), as an aged woman, living with the guilt of what she's done. We discover how she is "atoning" for her wrong. Does this final action redeem her? I go back and forth on it. Nothing could make up for what she did. But there was nothing she could have done to change things at that point in time. Maybe it was the only kind thing to do, since there was nothing else she could do.

I highly recommend this movie, which was based on an Ian McEwan novel of the same name. It was 2hrs and 3min long, rated R for language; some sexuality (no nudity); and graphic war scenes (the wounded soldiers in the medical unit).

Beautifully done, beautifully told.