3 of 19

Write now Article Tools

What are the consequences of a lie? We've all told one. The little white lie, the blatant lie, the "I just chose to leave a few details out" lie. Our lies have hurt others feelings, broken up friendships and romances; but has your lie ever sent someone to jail; off to war; to their death? "Atonement" is the story of just such a lie.

"Atonement" screenplay of the multi-popular novel written by Ian McEwen. The film is a Drama/Romance/War Time theme; which takes place one of hottest days in England then flashes four years later to the war in World War II. The recognizable cast consists of Keira Knightly as oldest sister Cecelia Tallis (Cee), James McAvoy as Robbie Turner the son of one of the servants and love interest of Cecelia. Then we have the youngest sister Briny Tallis played by three actresses portraying her life from 13 to 77 (Saoirse Ronan at 13, Romola Garai at 18, Vanessa Redgrave at 77).

The story begins with Briny and ends with her. It's really her story, told by her and appropriate because there would be no story if not for her. It's her lie. Briny is a 13 year-old girl with an active imagination that she has claimed to use to write play. She finishes it on this day and with her cousins staying and her brother and his friend coming home she's got all she needs for a successful theatrical. Over the events of the day she witnesses inappropriate behaviors between her sister and Robbie that she doesn't understand. The problem, of course, is that what she sees is only part of the story.

Robbie gets invited to a dinner party at the house and after attempting to type a letter telling Cecelia that he loves her he fools around and types a less than appropriate more blatant confession. He leaves and picks up what he thinks is the poetic confession to Cee. Upon seeing Briny in a field he calls upon her to deliver the note. She runs off and he realizes that the note is the wrong one. Briny reads the note before delivering it and her imagination takes off creating him into a monster that needs to be locked up.

Cee receives the note and is still receptive to Robbie and reviles her love for him. However, two of their young cousins run away and the whole house sets out on the grounds to find the boys in the dark. While out Briny discovers her cousin Lola (the boys sister) being raped and accuses Robbie. Upon her word he's jailed and sentenced. The family is broken and Cee leaves her family for the city as she stands by the innocence of Robbie. After four years in jail Robbie is let out to fight in the war. He should have been an officer but because he was an inmate he was only allowed to be a private. Cee went to the hospital to work. At 18 Briny would follow.

One day word got to Briny that her cousin Lola would be marrying her brothers' friend from that night and it all came back to her. She had seen him not Robbie. She had knowingly falsely accused Robbie because of her over active imagination. But it all doesn't come out till the end. The damage is done, lives are ruined. You learn the power in a lie.

Learn more about this author, Dawn Taylor.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Movie reviews: Atonement - Golden Globe's best drama of 2007?
We want to hear your view. Write now!