USA Trailer #2 (2 min 20 sec):

(Trailer can be downloaded as MP4, WMV and MPG)

The Tallis family throws a dinner party one evening in 1935 within their palatial countryside English home. A question is presented to all diners: “What sins have you committed today?” Young Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) says, “I didn’t commit any sins,” but she is lying. She committed several sins that day, and later that evening, she would go onto commit a greater sin, a sin which will destroy two lives and forever injure another.

Briony, a fledgling writer, reads a private letter not addressed to her. She misinterprets the words and draws inaccurate conclusions. She believes her sister’s secret lover, Robbie Turner, is a rapist. On Briony’s faulty testimony, Robbie is sent to prison and then sent off to war.

Briony, however, isn’t the only sinner of that day. Robbie composes a dirty letter to Cecilia Tallis (Kiera Knightly), expressing his lustful thoughts. Cecilia, enflamed by the suggestions of that letter, gives into her passions, and together, she and Robbie fornicate. And one diner commits the aforementioned rape.

But which sin is greater? Lust? Fornication? Rape? Or the sin of presumption, lying, and false accusation? In this movie, the fornicating lovers actually do love each other and they plan to marry. In a bizarre twist of events, the rapist, who commits statutory rape on a consenting minor, eventually goes onto marry that minor. While most Bible scholars would agree that pre-marital sex is a sin, all would agree that marriage is the best route to go for those who are consumed with lust and passion.

But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. – 1 Corinthians 7:9

So, that leaves the liar. Briony’s lies have long lasting consequences, irrevocable consequences, tragic consequences. We come to find that her sin leads to a lifetime of pain and a quest to find atonement.

Atonement is a Biblical word. It means in general the satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends. Biblically, it means the reconciliation of God and humankind, as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ. Some scholars try to make the definition of it easy by saying it means “God making man ‘At-One’ with Him again.” He does this by forgiveness. He does this by giving his son, Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sin, because sin must be punished.

Briony carries the burden of her sin throughout her life. With one final act, as an old woman, she creates a scenario where Robbie and Cecelia find the love and happiness they long for. But does this scenario have meaning and purpose?

Atonement is integral to the Christian message. According to Christianity and Judaism, there can be no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. Some may fault the faith for that fact, but it’s true. But think of it this way. If we are all sinners, and we can’t do anything about it by our own good works, then it’s pretty darn great that Jesus is willing to do whatever it takes to make your sin and my sin right with God. He’s willing even to sacrifice himself to make it happen.

The movie Atonement dares to raise the issue of sacrifice, sin, and “making things right” into the public consciousness. It’s a discussion worth tackling because it’s a discussion of eternal, if not life-long, consequence. And the movie does it in a beautiful and marvelous way. Acting, directing, writing, cinematography are all top notch and this movie is sure to gain attention during the award season. Look for the 4.5 minute long shot at Dunkirk in 1940 war-wracked France. The shot is a doozy, and it’s a symbol of why this movie should be taken seriously.