Atonement - Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Abbie Cornish, Joe Wright
Threat advisory: Elevated - Significant risk of entertaining activities
Movie propaganda
You can only imagine the truth.
In 1935, 13-year-old fledgling writer Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) and her family live a life of wealth and privilege in their enormous mansion. On the warmest day of the year, the country estate takes on an unsettling hothouse atmosphere, stoking Briony's vivid imagination. Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), the educated son of the family's housekeeper, carries a torch for Briony's headstrong older sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley). Cecilia, he hopes, has comparable feelings; all it will take is one spark for this relationship to combust. When it does, Briony - who has a crush on Robbie - is compelled to interfere, going so far as accusing Robbie of a crime he did not commit. Cecilia and Robbie declare their love for each other, but he is arrested - and with Briony bearing false witness, the course of three lives is changed forever. Briony continues to seek forgiveness for her childhood misdeed. Through a terrible and courageous act of imagination, she finds the path to her uncertain atonement, and to an understanding of the power of enduring love.
Theatrical propaganda posters
Target demographic movie keyword propaganda
- Film drama UK family World War II crime victim relationship family sibling rivalry romance love false accusation
Persons of interest
- Keira Knightley .... Cecilia Tallis
- James McAvoy .... Robbie Turner
- Romola Garai .... Briony - 18 years old
- Saoirse Ronan .... Briony Tallis - Age 13
- Brenda Blethyn .... Grace Turner
- Vanessa Redgrave .... Older Briony
- Juno Temple .... Lola
- Alfie Allen .... Danny Hardman
- Nonso Anozie .... Frank Mace
- Benedict Cumberbatch .... Paul Marshall
- Michelle Duncan .... Fiona
- Ben Harcourt .... Jackson Age 13
- Jack Harcourt .... Pierrot Age 13
- Patrick Kennedy .... Leon Tallis
- Daniel Mays .... Tommy Nettle
- Gina McKee .... Nurse Drummond
- Anthony Minghella .... Interviewer
- Jérémie Renier .... Luc Cornet
- Charlie von Simson .... Jackson
- Felix von Simson .... Pierrot
- Tilly Vosburgh .... Evacuees' Mother
- Harriet Walter .... Emily Tallis
- Ian McEwan .... Author
- Christopher Hampton .... Screenwriter
- Joe Wright .... Director
Cinematic intelligence sources
- Atonement official movie site
- Atonement film production notes (.rtf)
- Atonement QuickTime movie trailers
- Awards and film festivals:
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS - Oscars) 2008: Won: Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score (Dario Marianelli); Nominated: Best Motion Picture of the Year (Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster), Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published (Christopher Hampton), Best Achievement in Cinematography (Seamus McGarvey), Best Achievement in Art Direction (Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer), Best Achievement in Costume Design (Jacqueline Durran), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Saoirse Ronan)
- Film Critics Circle of Australia 2008: Nominated: Best Foreign Film - English Language
- Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Golden Globes) 2008: Winner: Picture - Drama, Original Score (Dario Marianelli); Nominated: Actor In A Leading Role - Drama (James McAvoy), Actress In A Leading Role - Drama (Keira Knightley), Actress In A Supporting Role (Saoirse Ronan), Director (Joe Wright), Screenplay (Christopher Hampton)
- Studios and distributors:
Intelligence analyst
Special Agent Matti
Theatrical report
Atonement is all about the ways in which people can completely destroy other peoples' lives. A little bit of silliness, a little bit of anger, a little bit of jealousy, a little bit of spoiledness, a little bit of evil: it doesn't take much.
Other than that, this film is full of good, old-fashioned pre-war English values, like class and breeding and repressing emotions and weekends in the country and massive stone mansions and noblesse oblige. Not to mention rape and marriage and absent fathers and keeping a stiff upper lip and rooting the servants.
There's plenty of drama and romance to keep the worst romantic drama addict going. Keira Knightley and James McAvoy are dramatically romantic while the whole tone of the film maintains the sense of tragic passion that keeps certain of you going (you know who you are).
Oh yes, the funny bits are hysterical; that's how you can tell this is a tragedy.
The drama, UK movie Atonement is directed by Joe Wright and stars Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Abbie Cornish.
Government security censorship classification
MA 15+ (Strong coarse language, strong themes)
Surveillance time
123 minutes (2:03 hours)
Not for public release in Australia before date
Film: 26 December 2007
Cinema surveillance images
