GenQ

Atonement

James McAvoy

Keria Knightly

Brenda Blethyn

Now on DVD

Universal Home Video

This film is from the novel of the same name by writer Ian McEwan. Set over several decades Atonement tells emotional and heart wrenching story of two sisters Briony and Cecilia Tallis who are torn apart by a viscous lie.

The film begins when Briony and Cecilia are small girls. Briony destroys her older sisters relationship by lying about her boyfriend Robbie. As a direct result of her lies Robbie is sent of to prison.  Now eighteen years old, Briony is nurse in the war. Having held this secret about what she did for many years she decides to make it up to her sister and do things right.

Having not read the book, the ending was surprising and thought provoking at the same time. How one foolish child’s actions can alter the lives of so many people around her, while being engaging to watch at the same time. James McAvoy is simply amazing in this film and really makes this film special. Keria Knightly grows on me more and more after each film that I see her in. Her performance is touching and probably her most mature role to date.

Marcus Richa

Tags: atonement, keira knightly