Atonement ***
Cast: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave, Saoirse Ronan, Harriet Walter, Brenda Blethyn
Director: Joe Wright
Running Length: 2:10
MPAA Classification: R

In 1935 England, 13-year old Briony (Ronan) lives with her family in the countryside. Her older sister Cecilia (Knightley) is developing a relationship with Robbie (McAvoy) the servant. Cecelia herself has a crush on Robbie and is a bit jealous. She does see him as a seducer and wants to protect Cecelia. When a friend of the family is raped on the grounds, Briony offers up a lie that will change the three of their lives forever.

“Atonement” is an interesting, if tragic, movie. It straddles a thin line between youthful misunderstanding and jealous maliciousness. Briony is a tragic figure, played well by Ronan, Garai, and Redgrave, who spends her life trying to make up for a wrong that may or may not have been intentional. McAvoy is solid as Robbie, the person whose life is most directly affected by her actions. Director Joe Wright does a good job bringing war torn Europe to life. The problem with “Atonement” is that, aside from having a main character in Briony that is mostly unlikable, the film is a bit of a downer. This will not be a hit with mainstream audiences, and really was the weakest of the Best Picture nominees in 2007. This is definitely not a film for everyone.