Keira knightley movies atonement
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It was the ending she gave them because, in real life, they never had the chance to be together again.
This revelation reframes the entire story. Featuring deft performances from James MacAvoy and Keira Knightley, it's a successful adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel."
Atonement clinched the Best Film accolade at the BAFTAs, took home the Best Original Score at the Oscars, and earned Saoirse Ronan an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress at just 13 years old, reports the Express.
Launching both the 2007 Venice and Vancouver Film Festivals, the film also marked Wright as the youngest director ever to open the former at only 35.
Critic Andrew Collins gave the film a glowing five-star review in Radio Times, declaring: "Atonement transcends the expectations of its country-house setting, via the privations of war, to deliver a knockout twist that works better on the screen than it did on the page."
Bruce Newman, another film critic, praised the first part of the movie, stating: "In its first 45 minutes, Atonement achieves a kind of perfection rare even for big Oscar-bait movies," but he added a note of caution: "Every facet of the filmmaking is the equal of any picture released this year.
The film boasts an epic five-minute continuous shot featuring 1,000 extras that captures the Dunkirk evacuation chaos from McAvoy's perspective.
For those intrigued, time is ticking to watch this war drama on Netflix, as it departs the service on 16th June.
The film enjoys an impressive 83% 'fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critical consensus reads: "Atonement features strong performances, brilliant cinematography, and a unique score.
In the months before, the lovers have written, promising each other the happiness they have earned.
Each period and scene in the movie is compelling on its own terms, and then compelling on a deeper level as a playing out of the destiny that was sealed beside the fountain on that perfect summer’s day. The cinematography is gorgeous, the performances powerful, and the story unforgettable.
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Atonement: Caught in the Library [Favorite Scenes]
Keira Knightley and James McAvoy are on fire in this sexy and pivotal scene from the movie Atonement.
If you’ve seen Atonement, you know the “caught in the library” scene is one of the sexiest scenes on film.
She explains that this was the only way to give them peace, as the truth was too cruel. It underscores the central theme of the story: the power of words, the weight of guilt, and the cost of a lie.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Atonement does not feature any post-credits scenes.
We meet an elderly Briony (played by Vanessa Redgrave), who is now a successful author. Young Briony Tallis (played by Saoirse Ronan) is a 13-year-old aspiring writer with a vivid imagination. Briony’s act of writing the novel was her way of seeking forgiveness and giving Robbie and Cecilia the life she had stolen from them with her accusation.
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Movie Ending
The film ends with Briony revealing her final and perhaps only true act of atonement: crafting a fictional reality where Robbie and Cecilia lived happily ever after.
This is one of the year’s best films, a certain best picture nominee.
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Filming Locations
- Stokesay Court, Shropshire: Used as the Tallis family estate, the location was crucial for the visual tone and period authenticity.
- Redcar, North Yorkshire: Stood in for the beaches of Dunkirk during Robbie’s long, haunting trek through war-ravaged France.
- London: Various locations were used to depict wartime hospitals and bombed-out buildings.
The Dunkirk tracking shot—an almost 5-minute single take—is one of the film’s most technically and emotionally impressive scenes, highlighting the chaos and futility of war.
Awards and Nominations
- Won:
- Academy Award for Best Original Score (Dario Marianelli)
- Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated for:
- Best Picture (Academy Awards)
- Best Actress (Keira Knightley)
- Best Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan)
- Best Cinematography
- Best Adapted Screenplay
Behind the Scenes Insights
- The Dunkirk beach scene was shot in one continuous take, involving hundreds of extras, horses, and vehicles.
When I hear it, I despair that we Americans will ever approach such style with our words, which march out like baked potatoes. It’s now considered a technical masterpiece.
- The green dress worn by Keira Knightley has become one of the most iconic costumes in modern cinema.
- Saoirse Ronan, only 12 during filming, received universal acclaim and an Oscar nomination for her performance.
- Joe Wright insisted on realism in the war scenes, even bringing in real WWII veterans as consultants.
Inspirations and References
The film is directly based on Ian McEwan’s novel of the same name.
He finds himself in war-torn France during the Dunkirk evacuation, struggling to survive and get back to Cecilia, who has since cut ties with her family in solidarity with him.
Briony, now grown and played by Romola Garai, has come to realize the gravity of her actions. Her imagination and confusion intensify when she walks in on the two having sex in the library.
We see the same scene later from Robbie and Cecilia’s point of view, and realize it involves their first expression of mutual love. The film relies more on visuals and music to convey that emotional depth, and does so successfully.
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Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Robbie and Cecilia’s encounter in the library—both sensual and pivotal.
- Briony’s false testimony and the arrest that follows.
- The continuous tracking shot at Dunkirk.
- Briony’s interview in her old age, revealing the truth.
Iconic Quotes
- Robbie: “Come back to me.”
- Briony (older): “I gave them their happiness.”
- Cecilia: “In the library.
Cecilia is a nurse in London, and so is Briony, now 18, trying to atone for what she realizes was a tragic error. McEwan, one of the best novelists alive, allows the results of Briony’s vindictive behavior to grow offstage until we meet the principals again in the early days of the war. It weaves themes of love, guilt, war, and the power of storytelling into an emotionally complex narrative that spans decades.
Detailed Summary
The Summer of 1935: A Lie That Changes Everything
The story begins at the Tallis family estate in England, during a hot summer in 1935.