Atonement

“Atonement” certainly has wonderful production values and that is to director Joe Wright’s credit; however, I was less than captivated by its dark story. It’s 1935 when the movie opens and the budding romance between Cecilia (Kiera Knightley), and the son of a servant, Robbie (James McAvoy) is viewed through the eyes of 13-year-old Birony (Saoirse Ronan, later played by Romola Garai and as an old woman by Vanessa Redgrave). Birony, who has a crush on Robbie, feels both jealousy and a sense of protectiveness for her sister. This causes her to tell a lie that forever changes the course of three lives. Suffering – anguish – torment – sadness. That pretty much sums up the plot. The setting and costumes are sumptuous and Knightly and McAvoy appropriately tragic. The repetition of the sound of a typewriter (Birony is first an aspiring writer and later becomes a writer) adds cohesion to the plot. Although I’ve read articles claiming the movie is a strong adaptation of the book, a story this tragic is probably more appreciated when read. (12/15/07)