"I can't escape from what I did..." |
A mature Briony Tallis (Vanessa Redgrave), a noted novelist, reflects on her life and how one lie she told when she was 13 years old affected the lives of others.
As a young teen, Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) is an odd, rigid and opinionated writer of plays and stories. It's 1935 in England where Briony lives on an estate with her mother (Brenda Blethyn) and older sister Cecelia (Kiera Knightly).
Briony is smitten with Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), the housemaid's son who also attends college with Cecelia, but Briony is confused and upset by the apparent sexual tension between Cecelia and Robbie. Devasted by a note Robbie wrote to Cecelia and after catching Robbie and Cecelia in an intimate interlude, Briony tells a huge lie that sentences Robbie to prison.
At age 18, while attending nurses' training, Briony (now played by Romola Garai), looks to atone for her deceit but is it too late to be of any meaning in the lives of Cecelia and Robbie?
What a powerful film. Young Saoirse Ronan definitely deserved her Oscar nomination for this one and I'll be watching for her in future roles. Kiera Knightly and James McAvoy earned Empire Awards in the UK for their work and Saoirse Ronan was nominated as Best Newcomer.
Brilliantly directed by Joe Wright from a novel by Ian McEwan. The music, set design, and locations all beautifully enhanced the experience.
Rated R for disturbing war images, language and some sexuality.
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