England, 1935. A hot sultry day in the huge Victorian gothic mansion of the relatively wealthy and privileged Tallis. Briony the younger sister in the family has a talent for writing. But for some unfortunate reason her talent doesn’t just stop there. She is also gifted with a rather vivid imaginative mind. A keen observer that sees the world through intense scrutiny every passing moment. She notices Robbie — the house-keepers sons undying consumed and amorous love for her older sister Cecilia and is perhaps insecure and grudgingly resentful and desirous or even a little remorse of what she cannot have.

A family gathering on such a stiflingly sweltering evening sets afoot a little uncalled tragedy and Briony takes upon herself to condone Robbie — her elder sisters beau which eventually ruins not only just Cecilia’s life but the entire Tallis family one by one including her own and a lifetime of morbid guilt to carry through.

I can’t possibly write anymore and spoil your movie experience. We saw Atonement last night and to say the least — we’re blown away by the depth of this film, the cinematography and the casts performance: Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, Keira Knightley and others. Another brilliant piece of work from Joe Wright the director of Becoming Jane.

Robbie fought through his life every possible way hoping to be with Cecilia one day soon when his undeserved penance was done but life wasn’t a bed of roses for him in the least. His last found letter to his beloved defies time in as-much his ceaseless adoration for his amour:

Dearest Cecilia,

The story can resume. The one I had been planning on that evening walk. I can become again the man who once crossed the sunny park at dusk in my best suit, swaggering on the promise of life. The man, who with the clarity of passion, made love to you in the library.

The story can resume.
I will return
Find you. Love you
Marry you and
Live without shame

— Robbie

Novel: Atonement
Film: Atonement
Author: Ian McEwan