Atonement (2007)
James McAvoy, Keira Knightly

This luminous movie captures the beauty, irony and tragedy of its progenitor (see LitPicks Jan. 07). Like the book, it haunts you afterward.

A lie told by an uncomprehending 13 year-old English girl leads to devastating results, and Briony Tallis, once older and wiser, spends her years atoning for her error. She eventually becomes a well-known novelist and uses her imaginative powers as a writer to recreate a better reality.

The film version is lush, gorgeous—and as every critic has noted will be the making of young actor James McAvoy. He plays Robby with both compelling power and intelligent restraint. Keira Knightly is beautiful, but my friend Nan thinks she poses rather than acts. (That may be a bit harsh.)

According to press reports, McEwan is pleased with the film. He should be. There are some real standouts: First, the transformation of Briony—from 13 through the war years and into old age—is spot on, played beautifully by three different actresses, who you would swear are one.

The second standout is the beach scene at Dunkirk—a surreal, nightmarish bit of cinematography (or computerography) that captures the onset of Robby's delirium—not obvious, at first; it comes to you in hindsight.

Finally, the film's ending is actually better than the book's. Briony's (Vanessa Redgrave) monologue about the power of imagination clarifies the shifting realities of both book and film. And the interview vs. birthday party of the book feels less contrived, allowing the film to end on an achingly elegaic note.