Forget what you think you know. Anything you feel dead sure of…anything you would swear on a bible. You might feel 100% certain; ready to tell anyone who will listen your version of the truth. The fact of the matter is that even though you feel like you know the whole story inside out, there is always the possibility that you are wrong. Being in the wrong brings with it a heavy load of consequences – consequences which sometimes can’t be undone. Those consequences are at the heart of ATONEMENT, one of the year’s best films.

The story of ATONEMENT takes a long time to unfold. At first it seems like a typical early-century English story. A girl of privilege cares for a young man who is far beneath her in the class order. There’s a sprawling house, a sweeping score, upper-class conversation…basically everything except Anthony Hopkins playing a butler. Jokes aside, the plot hinges on three characters: Cecelia (Keira Knightley), the aforementioned girl of privilege, Robbie (James McAvoy) the groundskeeper with enough charm and education to entice Cecelia’s attention and desire, and Briony (Saoirse Ronan), Cecelia’s younger sister who tends to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time.Birony believes she has a handle on Cecelia and Robbie’s relationship, specifically Robbie’s morals and intentions…or lack thereof. One night a crime takes place that Briony believes she witnessed clearly – clearly enough to accuse Robbie of the misdeed. One problem – he didn’t do it. No matter, Robbie is proptly arrested, and enlists in the British Army to avoid prison. His relationship with Cecelia is swiftly torn apart, and his life will never be the same, all based on the misguided eyes of a thirteen year old.

Truthfully, this first act unfolds rather quietly. There are a few moments where the story backs up to retell certain scenes from another perspective, illustrating how far off Briony’s misconceptions really are, but for the most part, the first forty-five minutes are a tad underwhelming. But once Robbie is arrested, the movie takes a turn, and by doing so becomes rather extraordinary.

Robbie, Cecelia, and Briony all join the war effort as individual attempts to right their lives after the crime and accusation. As expected, the war only cuts them each deeper, especially Robbie who is witness to the madness of Dunkirk- a six minute sequence you won’t soon forget. Inevitably, all three paths do cross again. In the case of Robbie and Cecelia, time has only made their hearts grow fonder. In the case of Briony, time has only fanned the flames of resentment Robbie has for her…and worse yet, time has proved her undoubtedly wrong.

ATONEMENT illustrates just how little it takes to hurt someone you care about very deeply. Worse yet, it also illustrates just how little time you have to make amends. In many people, pride runs thicker than blood. For those, coming forward with hat in hand to make things right just isn’t the way they’re built. Unfortunately, this design flaw may cause major pain in their life’s journey. And worse yet, by the time they do see fit to seek forgiveness, it might well be too late. This point is emphasized in the film’s coda: a masterstroke which I dare not spoil.

This is the sort of movie that works for reasons other than emotional performances, and sweeping photography. This is a movie that succeeds on the back of a tremendous story. It’s been effectively adapted from Ian McEwan, amd retold in a way that highlights the themes of perspective, pain, and pennance. It begs the question – just how much time does one have until it’s too late? Too late to tell the truth? Too late to undo the damage done? Too late to atone?

In the eyes of ATONEMENT, the answer is that there isn’t much time at all.

Matineescore: ★ ★ ★ 1/2 out of ★ ★ ★ ★
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