Atonement

In England in 1935, precocious 13-year-old Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) lives on her a!ily"s coun#ry es#a#e $i#h her !o#her and sis#er, %ecilia (&eira &nigh#ley)' %ecilia is ho!e or #he su!!er ro! %a!rige $here she had een s#udying $i#h #he houseeeper"s son, Roie (*a!es +cvoy)' She and Roie have an uncer#ain rela#ionship nei#her is $illing #o ac# on i# u# a cer#ain ro!an#ic che!is#ry e.is#s e#$een #he!' /ne day, Briony sees ro! her edroo! $indo$ an argu!en# e#$een %ecilia and Roie a# #he oun#ain' Roie acciden#ally roe an an#i0ue vase and a piece o i# ell in#o #he oun#ain' ngrily, %ecilia s#ripped #o her under$ear and dove in#o #he oun#ain #o re#rieve i#' Briony is conused aou# #he se.ual #ension e#$een #he #$o o #he!' The Tallises are eing visi#ed y young rela#ives ro! #he nor#h -- #he #$ins ierro# and *acson (2eli. and %harlie von Si!sin) and #heir 15-year-old sis#er, ola (*uno Te!ple), $hose paren#s are in #he process o divorcing' eon Tallis (a#ric &ennedy) rings his riend aul (Benedic# %u!era#ch) or dinner' aul eenly ollo$s 4i#ler"s poli#ical advance and predic#s $ar' 4e plans #o sell chocola#e ars #o #he Bri#ish !ili#ary #o give #o #heir soldiers' hile he #ries #o a!use ierro# and *acson, aul and ola lir#' E!arrassed E!arrassed y his ehavior earlier in #he day, Roie #ries #o $ri#e an apology no#e #o %ecilia' /ne o #he dra#s includes a se.ually charged declara#ion o his love or her' 4e #hen $ri#es a !ore or!al apology he in#ends #o deliver #o her' 4o$ever, he acciden#ally gives #he se.ual no#e #o Briony $hile $aling #o dinner a# #he Tallises #ha# nigh# he gives her #he no#e ecause he elieves i# $ill e less e!arrassing e!arrassing i i# co!es ro! Briony ins#ead o hi!' hen he reali6es $ha# he has done, he calls ou# #o Briony u# she is #oo ar a$ay #o hear hi!' Bac in #he house, she reads #he no#e and is scandali6ed' She gives #he no#e # o %ecilia u# la#er conides #o ola #ha# she  elieves Roie is a dangerous dangerous se. !aniac' ola ola has co!e #o her $i#h $i#h ar! ruises #ha# she she accuses her #$in #$in  ro#hers o giving #o her her u# Briony ignores #he!' #he!' Roie arrives or dinner' 4e and %ecilia discuss #he no#e and ad!i# #heir love or one ano#her' They !ae  passiona#e love in #he lirary lirary u# are discovered discovered y Briony' # dinner, i# is discovered discovered #ha# ierro# ierro# and *acson have run a$ay' Everyone loos or #he!' hile looing or #he! y a cree, Briony s#u!les on ola eing raped y so!eone' 4e runs a$ay in#o #he darness' Briony insis#s #o irs# ola and #hen #he police #ha# Roie $as #he culpri# and randishes #he se.ual le##er #o %ecilia as evidence' /nly %ecilia pro#es#s his innocence' hen Roie re#urns $i#h #he #$ins, he is arres#ed or rape' Tried and convic#ed, he is sen# #o prison' 2our years la#er he is released in#o #he Bri#ish ar!y and !aes up par# o #he Bri#ish E.pedi#ionary 2orce #ha# is sen# #o nor#hern 2rance in an a##e!p# #o hal# #he 7a6i advance' In nor#hern 2rance, Roie and #$o ello$ soldiers a##e!p# #o !ae #heir $ay #o 8unir, $here #he re!nan#s o #he BE2 are #o e evacua#ed a#er #he 7a6is rou# #heir orces and #he 2rench' 4e has a shrapnel $ound in his ches#' Several $ees earlier, eore he le# ondon, he sa$ %ecilia again' She re!ained #rue #o hi! or our years and egs hi! #o co!e ac #o her' She reveals #ha# she has roen con#ac# $i#h her a!ily over her love or Roie and elie in his innocence' She gives hi! a pho#ograph o a seaside co##age near 8over #ha# #hey can re#ire #o' I# $ill give hi! s#reng#h as he s#ruggles #o$ards 8unir' %ecilia is a nurse in ondon' She learns #ha# Briony, no$ 1 (Ro!ola :arai) has decided no# #o s#udy a# %a!ridge and is #raining #o e a nurse hersel' Briony no$s #ha# Roie did no# rape ola, #ha# i# $as aul -- #o $ho! ola is no$ engaged and $ho has  eco!e a !illionaire !illionaire selling his candy #o #he Bri#ish Bri#ish ar!y' Briony goes #o #o see %ecilia #o ad!i# her guil# and s#a#e her $illingness #o do $ha#ever i# #aes #o a#one or her sins and clear Roie"s na!e' Roie is in %ecilia"s apar#!en# $hen she ge#s #here' l#hough #hey are angry $i#h her, #hey #ell her $ha# she needs #o do #o !ae #hings righ#' She agrees, #hen leaves as %ecilia and Roie are in#i!a#e or one las# #i!e eore he is shipped #o 2rance $i#h #he BE2' In 1999, Briony (;anessa Redgrave), no$ in her la#e seven#ies and dying o vascular de!en#ia, is a a!ous novelis#' 4er ne$ oo, <<#one!en#<<, $ill e pulished on her ir#hday' The oregoing narra#ive had een one she crea#ed or her oo, as an ac# o a#one!en# or $ha# she did # o Roie and %ecilia' In real lie, she never sa$ %ecilia a#er she le# #he a!ily, and %ecilia and Roie never had a las# #ender !o!en# in her apar#!en# eore he le# $i#h #he BE2' Ins#ead, he died a# 8unir o sep#ice!ia, $ai#ing #o e evacua#ed' %ecilia died a e$ !on#hs la#er $hen a :er!an o! urs# a $a#er !ain and looded #he su$ay #unnel in $hich she and o#her ondoners had #aen reuge during #he Bli#6' Briony hopes #ha#, y reuni#ing #he!, she gives #he! #he happy conclusion #o #heir lives #ha# #hey deserved and her readers #he hope #ha# everyone needs #o survive' Roie and %ecilia $al do$n #he each on a righ#, eau#iul day' /n #he s#eps o #he seaside co##age, #hey loo a# #he eau#iul $hi#e clis, #hen disappear inside'

*oe righ#, #he B2T $ard-$inning direc#or o ride = re>udice, has reuni#ed $i#h his il!!aing #ea! and his cade!y $ard-no!ina#ed ac#ress, &eira &nigh#ley, or ano#her classic Bri#ish ro!ance, s#arring *a!es +cvoy (B2T $ard no!inee or The as# &ing o Sco#land) opposi#e +s' &nigh#ley' %hris#opher 4a!p#on (cade!y $ard $inner or 8angerous iaisons) has $ri##en #he screenplay adap#a#ion o Ian +cE$ans es#-selling ?@@? novel #one!en#' Sho# on loca#ion in #he A'&', #he il!s s#ory spans several decades' In 1935, 13-year-old ledgling $ri#er Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) and her a!ily live a lie o $eal#h and privilege in #heir enor!ous !ansion' /n #he $ar!es# day o #he year, # he coun#ry es#a#e #aes on an unse##ling ho#house a#!osphere, s#oing Brionys vivid i!agina#ion' Roie Turner (+r' +cvoy), #he educa#ed son o #he a!ilys houseeeper, carries a #orch or Brionys heads#rong older sis#er %ecilia (+s' &nigh#ley)' %ecilia, he hopes, has co!parale eelings all i# $ill #ae is one spar or #his rela#ionship #o co!us#' hen i# does, Briony $ho has a crush on Roie is co!pelled #o in#erere, going so ar as accusing Roie o a cri!e he did no# co!!i#' %ecilia and Roie declare #heir love or each o#her, u# he is arres#ed and $i#h Briony earing alse $i#ness, #he course o #hree lives is changed orever' Briony con#inues #o see orgiveness or her childhood !isdeed' Through a #errile and courageous ac# o i!agina#ion, she inds #he pa#h #o her uncer#ain a#one!en#, and #o an unders#anding o #he po$er o enduring love'

   T4E 2//I7: IS 7/T %/+/SE8 BC +E' T4IS ERS I7 /7E /2 T4E +/;IE S/IER EBSITES 78 IS RITTE7 BC S/+E/7E %E8 "8 Sch$ar6"' ITS S/ 8ES%RITI;E 78 27TSTI% T4T I 8E%I8E8 T/ S4RE IT IT4 /T4ER I+8B ASERS' T4E TEDT 4S 7/T BEE7 %47:E8 I7 7C C 78 ERS ED%TC S RITTE7 BC T4E /RI:I7 RITER'   

The il! s#ar#s ou# $i#h a 13 year old Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) $ri#ing a play #ha# she $an#s #o pu# on #ha# evening or #he re#urn o her older ro#her eon' She runs #hrough #he house and in#o #he garden and inds #$en#y-so!e#hing year old Roie Turner #he houseeeper"s son (*a!es +cvoy) as he is #ending #o #he lo$ers' They e.change conversa#ion and i#s clear #ha# she has a crush on hi! u# he regards her as a li##le sis#er' e #hen see Briony"s !o#her reading #he play and loving i#' The ne.# scene sho$s Briony lying on #he garden $i#h her older sis#er %ecilia (&eira &nigh#ley)' Briony ass %ecilia $hy she doesn"# #al #o Roie any!ore, %ecilia says she does, #hey >us# !ove in dieren# circles' Then $e see Briony rehearsing #he play $i#h her cousins, ierro# and *acson uincy and #heir older sis#er ola (*uno Te!ple)' ola is aou# 1F or so' The younger oys 0uicly ge# ored $i#h #he play and go o or a s$i! and Briony i le# alone in #he house' She is looing ou# #he $indo$ and sees %ecilia and Roie ou# y #he oun#ain in so!e sor# o argu!en#' Then $e see %ecilia s#rip do$n #o her slip and >u!p in#o #he oun#ain #o re#rieve so!e#hing and she co!es ou# and her slip is $e# and sheer and Roie loos a$ay as she dresses and leaves' e suddenly see #he sa!e scene ro! #he poin# o vie$ o %ecilia and Roie, as #hey are #aling $hile $aling in#o #he garden, %ecilia is holding an e.pensive vase and as she #ried #o ill i# $i#h $a#er ro! #he oun#ain, Roie #ried #o #ae i# ro! her #o ill i# and she reuses and #hey pull on i#, reaing #he porcelain' I# alls in#o #he oun#ain, $hich is $ha# %ecilia goes #o re#rieve' e #hen see %ecilia in her roo!, s!oing, >us# generally ge##ing ready or #he evening' Through her $indo$ she sees her ro#her eon drive up $i#h a riend, so!e rich #ycoon $ho o$ns a chocola#e ac#ory' She sees eon #aling #o Roie $i#h dis!ay' They !ee# eon"s riend, $ho see!s ra#her shady' eon, %ecilia and #he riend, aul +arshall, are all s$i!!ing I #he lae and i# is revealed #ha# Roie and %ecilia $en# #o school #oge#her and

#ha# Roie is pursuing a !edical degree' eon inor!s %ecilia #ha# he has invi#ed Roie #o dinner, and %ecilia is upse# a# #his' The scene #hen cu#s #o Roie in his co##age #yping a le##er #o %ecilia, #rying #o apologi6e or his  ehavior earlier #ha# day' 4e #ypes several dra#s eore inally #yping a ra#her raunchy se.ual le##er #o her' hile he is #yping $e see #he scene cu# ac and or#h e#$een hi! and %ecilia ge##ing ready and pu##ing clips in her hair' (I!por#an#) 4e laughs as he $ri#es i#, #hen olds i# up and places i# ne.# #o his #ype$ri#er' 4e #hen hand$ri#es a very hear#el# apology and goes #o ge# ready or dinner #ha# evening' s he $als do$n #he lane #o #he !ain house he sees Briony playing in #he garden and ass her #o deliver #he le##er #o %ecilia, $hich she does' s she is running #o #he house, $e see Roie suddenly re!e!er #ha# he pu# #he $rong le##er in #he envelope and in ac#, #he raunchy le##er is eing delivered' 4e screa!s or Briony u# i#s #oo la#e and she is already in #he house and is reading #he le##er' She #hen delivers i# #o %ecilia, u# $i#hou# #he envelope, so %ecilia no$s #ha# she has read i#' e #hen see aul +arshall $andering #hrough #he house and co!es across #he cousins, ierro#, *acson and ola' 4e en#er#ains #he children u# i# is also clear #ha# he is in#eres#ed in ola' a#er on Briony goes #o her roo! #o change or dinner and ola en#ers her roo!, co!plaining aou# eing #or#ured y her li##le ro#hers' Briony #aes #his oppor#uni#y #o #ell ola $ha# $as $ri##en in #he raunchy le##er, calling Roie a se.ual !aniac' She #hen ge#s ready or dinner and is running do$n #he s#airs $hen she sees a s!all hairclip on #he loor' She pics i# up and sees a ligh# shining #hrough a door$ay, she ollo$s i# #o see Roie and %ecilia in an a$$ard posi#ion agains# #he $all o #he lirary, oviously having !ade love > us# !o!en#s eore' e see Briony"s #eary ace >us# as #he scene cu#s #o Roie ringing #he doorell or dinner' %ecilia ans$ers #he door and he #ried #o apologi6e or giving #he $rong version o #he le##er' %ecilia #aes hi! #o #he lirary and asically #hey ad!i# #heir a##rac#ion #o one ano#her and s#ar# issing and having se. up agains# #he $all' In #he !iddle o i# #hey #ell each o#her #hey love one ano#her and #hen con#inue, un#il %ecilia hears #he door open and Briony $al in' They disen#angle #he!selves and leave #he roo!, $i#h Briony >us# $a#ching #he!' # dinner #hey all pre#end no#hing"s happened, un#il +rs' Tallis no#ices #ha# #he young #$in oys aren"# a# dinner so Briony is sen# #o ge# #he!' She co!es ac do$n and inor!s #he group #ha# #he oys have run a$ay, so a search par#y is i!!edia#ely or!ed' Briony #aes a lashligh# and se# ou# alone and s#u!les across a !an $i#h his pan#s do$n on #op o ola' s soon as #he lashligh# shines on #he! he runs a$ay, u# you don"# see his ace' ola is crying and Briony runs up #o her, asing her $ho #he !an $as' ola isn"# sure as her eyes $ere covered,  u# Briony convinces her i#s Roie' ola is rough# in#o #he house and #he police are called and Briony #es#iies #ha# i# $as Roie $ho a##aced ola and she is sure she sa$ hi!' %ecilia #ells #he police no# #o elieve Briony as she is a anciul girl u# as soon as Roie co!es ac #o #he house, having ound #he #$o young oys, #he police #ae hi! a$ay' The !ovie cu#s #o G years la#er and $e see Roie in 2rance $i#h #$o o#her priva#es in #he ar!y, as i# is no$ ?' They as hi! $ha# an educa#ed !an lie hi! is doing as a priva#e, #o $hich Roie responds, you can"# ge# pro!o#ed i you"ve co!e ou# o prison and he $as given a choice, s#ay in prison, or >oin #he ar!y' Then $e see a scene ro! si. !on#hs earlier $here Roie and %ecilia !ee# a#er 3 and 1H? years and a#er so!e a$$ard conversa#ion #hey declare #heir love or one ano#her a#er all #his #i!e' %ecilia has eco!e a nurse no$ in ondon and is living in an apar#!en# and doesn"# spea #o her sis#er Briony or her a!ily any!ore' Roie re#urns #o #he $ar u# #hey con#inue #o $ri#e le##ers, %ecilia #ells hi! o a co##age y #he sea #hey can visi# #he ne.# #i!e he is on leave and gives hi! a pic#ure o i# #o hold on #o' e see hi! #hroughou# #he il!, going #hrough a##le and looing a# #he sa!e pic#ure every chance he ge#s' %ecilia also #ells hi! #ha# Briony is no$ in  7urses #raining and has $ri##en #o her, asing #o #al' e #hen see a 1 year old Briony, in her nurses unior!, #rying #o i# in a# #he hospi#al' She $ri#es #o %ecilia, asing #o #al and #elling her she only no$ reali6es #he ull e.#en# o her alse #es#i!ony years ago' e see Roie $ounded in 2rance and $ai#ing or #he roundup o soldiers #o e #aen #o #he hospi#al and #hen see Briony and #he o#her nurses #ending #o in>ured soldiers' She i!agines #ha# she sees Roie u# he isn"# #here' Several days la#er Briony #hen leaves #he hospi#al #o a##end #he $edding o aul +arshall, $ho is !arrying her cousin ola' ola sees Briony a# #he $edding u# ignores her' Briony #hen goes #o %ecilia"s apar#!en# and egs #o #al #o her, #o apologi6e' She sees Roie #here, $ho $an#s #o rea her nec u# ins#ead Roie and %ecilia !ae Briony i. $ha# she has done $rong and change her s#a#e!en#' Briony ad!i#s #ha# she sa$ aul +arshall a##acing ola #ha# nigh# in #he garden and #hey eco!e upse# ecause aul has >us# !arried ola so he has i!!uni#y' e see Briony agree #o change her s#a#e!en# and she leaves and $e see %ecilia and Roie inally #oge#her in #he apar#!en#, issing' Then Briony is on a #rain and suddenly #he screen goes lac and a $o!an says, can $e s#op or a !o!en#' e cu# #o presen# day and $e see an old Briony Tallis (;anessa Redgrave) eing in#ervie$ed aou# her la#es#

 oo, #i#led #one!en#' She e.plains ho$ i# is her las# oo ecause she is dying and she $an#ed #o e co!ple#ely hones# aou# all #he even#s o #he si#ua#ion' She ad!i#s ho$ever #ha# she $asn"# hones# aou# one par#' Tha# she never $en# #o her sis#er #ha# day #o as or orgiveness and #ha# Roie $as never #here ecause he died o sep#ice!ia in 2rance $ai#ing #o e #aen #o #he hospi#al a e$ !on#hs earlier' She also says #ha# she never go# #o se# #hings righ# $i#h her sis#er ecause she $as illed in a o! las# a e$ !on#hs a#er Roie died' Briony ad!i#s #ha# she has had #o live $i#h #his #ru#h all her lie so she changed i# in her oo, in order #o give %ecilia and Roie #heir chance #o e #oge#her in her oo, i no# in real lie' The las# scene sho$s %ecilia and Roie playing on #he each and #hen going in#o #he co##age #ha# %ecilia had #aled aou# earlier and #he !ovie ends' age las# upda#ed y $hi##ein, 9 !on#hs ago