

Director: Joe Wright 
Cast: James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan 

Synopsis 
Based on the novel by Ian McEwan, it tells the story of how an accusation by Briony changes the lives of a potential couple, Cecilia and Robbie. As indicated by the title, can she atone for what she has done?! 

My Thoughts 

* The entire discussion may contain spoilers * 

-- I can understand why some people do not like the film ... but maybe I can help shed some light as to why the film is worth watching ... 

(i) I particularly like the film for its beginning (until the apprehension of Robbie) and its ending (the interview with old Briony) ... However, somewhere in the middle, I thought it does not grip as much in terms of story telling, but rather visually in portraying the war ... 

In particular, I thought this was the BEST LINE in the entire film (I am not sure how many people notice or recall this line at the end) ... during the interview ... * PLOT TWIST SPOILER * old Briony finally admitted that none of those could have happened because the two of them had died before she could atone for her deeds ... and since the two could not be together in reality, she has decided to let them be together in her novel ... old Briony said, "I GAVE THEM HAPPINESS!" ... WOW ... 
... I really thought that this line is so PUNCHING, PUNNING, PARADOXICAL ... stirring all the emotions needed for the audience to decide upon all the events that have happened ... 

(ii) The style in story telling (i.e., starting from a point of time that was over) may be novel to some audience, but i do recall seeing it in several other films ... (maybe you can help me recall ... hee hee) ... but this does NOT discredit its appropriateness ... 
... (a) in line with the theme, it challenges us to think ... IF TIME WERE TO REWIND, CAN WE UNDO THE PAST? ... unfortunately, time does not really go back ... 
... (b) we thought we knew what happened, but hey ... let's go through it AGAIN ... maybe SEEING IS NOT BELIEVING (e.g., the fountain scene) ... maybe HEARING IS NOT BELIEVING (e.g., police listening Briony's testimony), etc ... 
... (c) by doing so, it also allows the director to depict different perspectives of the various characters ... 

(iii) The original story?! or the director?! or simply the film is GREAT at dropping hints ... 
e.g., the film opens with a script/play ... it prepares the audience of MANY GRAY/UNCLEAR lines between reality and fantasy/imagination ... 
... (a) such as Briony and what she saw, 
... (b) such as Robbie and what he desired, 
... (c) such as Lola and her wanting to be an adult (as for her relationship, if any, watch out for the scene where the man hands the chocolate bar, the camera makes it diffcult to tell whether their hands "touched", and if they did, was it still a "rape"), 
... (d) such as old Briony and her novel ... etc ... there are numerous to list ... 

(iv) the film is also very philosphical about life ... and its complex relationship among people ... 
... I guess you can infer too ... so I shant type more ... 

(v) Technically ... 
... the cinematography is commendable ... 
... the soundtrack, esp. the beginning with all the typewriter sound, keeps the pace going ... 
... in terms of cast, the young Briony kind of stole the show ... the two main protagonists were great too ... 

Conclusion 
Recommended ... but because I have yet to watch ALL 5 nominated films ... I withhold my assessment of which film I think is more deserving of the Best Film in 2007 ...