Atonement (2007)

Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a thirteen-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.

Director:

Joe Wright

Writers:

Ian McEwan (novel), Christopher Hampton (screenplay)

Stars:

Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Brenda Blethyn

Won 1 Oscar. Another 50 wins & 147 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Saoirse Ronan	...	Briony Tallis, aged 13
Ailidh Mackay	...	Singing Housemaid
Brenda Blethyn	...	Grace Turner
Julia West	...	Betty
James McAvoy	...	Robbie Turner
Harriet Walter	...	Emily Tallis
Keira Knightley	...	Cecilia Tallis
Juno Temple	...	Lola Quincey
Felix von Simson	...	Pierrot Quincey (as Felix Von Simson)
Charlie von Simson	...	Jackson Quincey (as Charlie Von Simson)
Alfie Allen	...	Danny Hardman
Patrick Kennedy	...	Leon Tallis
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	Paul Marshall
Peter Wight	...	Police Inspector
Leander Deeny	...	Police Constable

Storyline

SPOILER: When Briony Tallis, 13 years old and an aspiring writer, sees her older sister Cecilia and Robbie Turner at the fountain in front of the family estate she misinterprets what is happening thus setting into motion a series of misunderstandings and a childish pique that will have lasting repercussions for all of them. Robbie is the son of a family servant toward whom the family has always been kind. They paid for his time at Cambridge and now he plans on going to medical school. After the fountain incident, Briony reads a letter intended for Cecilia and concludes that Robbie is a deviant. When her cousin Lola is raped, she tells the police that it was Robbie she saw committing the deed.

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Plot Keywords:

rape | world war two | sex | loss of virginity | septicemia | 

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Taglines:

Joined by love. Separated by fear. Redeemed by hope.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing war images, language and some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Focus Features [United States] Official Facebook

Country:

UK France USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

11 January 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Expiación, deseo y pecado

Filming Locations:

British Steel works, now Tata Steel works, Redcar, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,634,065 (United Kingdom), 9 September 2007, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$796,836, 9 December 2007, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$50,927,067

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$129,266,061

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures,StudioCanal,Relativity Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It took about 3 weeks to prepare the beach and sea front area, having all street furniture removed, tons of sand brought in to cover the promenade, road and pavement, boarding up of all sea facing windows and installation of ferris wheel, band stand and army vehicles etc. After nearly a week of rehearsals for the extras, actors and crew then the actual filming it took a over two weeks to put everything back to normal all for 5 minutes of screen time.

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Goofs

When Robbie gives Briony the letter for her sister, she arrives at the fence with the hem of her collar down. In the next shot, her collar is up. In the next shot, it's down again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Briony Tallis, aged 13: I finished my play.

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Crazy Credits

The title types itself out like on a typewriter.

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Connections

Referenced in Friday Night with Jonathan Ross: Episode #13.1 (2007)

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Soundtracks

O Soave Fanciulla, O Dolce Viso
from "La Bohème"
Written by Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica, Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Jussi Björling, Victoria de los Ángeles (as Victoria de los Angeles) and The RCA Victor Orchestra
Conducted by Thomas Beecham (as Sir Thomas Beecham)
Courtesy of EMI Records Ltd

User Reviews

Best adaptation of a novel ever!

I usually don't like watching novels turned into movies (specially when I liked the novel as much as I liked McEwan's "Atonement") but this was a really pleasant surprise. The plot is extraordinarily well adapted, leaving out what cannot possibly be included in a two-hour film, changing very few details to translate literary language to cinematographic language but sticking to the essence and the spirit of the novel.

I really believe that if you enjoyed McEwan's novel, you will fall for this beautiful film. If you have never read McEwan, you will fall for the intriguing and thrilling story written by this wonderful English novelist.

Please, don't miss this one!