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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
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:

Working Title Films * Universal Pictures

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.