Powerful music plays throughout the beginning of the film followed by the sound of a typewriter, drawing the viewer into the movie. The music suits the movie perfectly, blending the themes presented in the book into a striking melody. A beautiful summer day in the British country begins the film on a good note. Children are playing and adults are enjoying the waterside of their beautiful British estate. The audacious characters are presented in lavish scenes fitting the descriptions from the novel written by Ian McEwan suitably. Sexual tension builds and creates a stimulating environment at a family gathering. Beautiful gowns and suits are warn to the grand dining room set to welcome guests.
Keira Knightley plays Cecilia Tallis, daughter of a prosperous family based in Britain. Cecilia Tallis unexpectedly falls in love with a family servant's son, Robbie, played by James McAvoy. Both actors played their rolls well, captivating a young couple deeply in love. Briony, Cecilia's thirteen year old sister, destroys any hope for this blossoming love to grow when she sends Robbie into jail through a lie.
The calm British country scene changes to graphic war scenes, almost too graphic. My interest in the film faded as the war became the main focus in the film. Joe Wright failed making the war intriguing and devastating as McEwan did in the novel. The young couple is still separated and has been for nearly three years since they made love in the library of the Tallis Estate. Love letters are their only connection between the raging war Robbie pertains and Cecilia's escalating nurse training in Britain.
The movie now changes to convey Briony back into the story, now eighteen and training to become a nurse in Cecilia's old hospital Briony realizes the reality of what she has done to her sister. The film shows her distress through her writing. The sound of a typewriter fills the movie once again this time captivating Briony's surge to write a novel. Her attempts are countless with many outcomes each not good enough.
The once quiet sanitary hospital Briony has spent days tending abruptly transforms into a war zone. Hundreds of appallingly injured soldiers enter the hospital with no warning. Very graphic ailing scenes show the vast injuries of British troops coming from the growing war. The vivid scenes were almost too much surpassing the standards the book set.
The ending of the film differentiated from the novel. In both the book and the movie Briony throughout the entire film begs for forgiveness for her atrocious actions. It is up to the reader or viewer to forgive Briony's actions. The author creates two different endings through Briony's writing. The reader and viewer are left opting what ending to believe.
