Atonement Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Plot

What's the story about?

Plot

In 1935, 13-year-old fledgling writer Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) and her family live a life of wealth and privilege in their enormous mansion. On the warmest day of the year, the country estate takes on an unsettling hothouse atmosphere, stoking Briony's vivid imagination. Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), the educated son of the family's housekeeper, carries a torch for Briony's headstrong older sister Cecilia (Kiera Knightley). Cecilia, he hopes, has comparable feelings; all it will take is one spark for this relationship to combust. When it does, Briony - who has a crush on Robbie - is compelled to interfere, going so far as accusing Robbie of a crime he did not commit. Cecilia and Robbie declare their love for each other, but he is arrested - and with Briony bearing false witness, the course of three lives is changed forever. Briony continues to seek forgiveness for her childhood misdeed. Through a terrible and courageous act of imagination, she finds the path to her uncertain atonement, and to an understanding of the power of enduring love.

Drama

Top Cast

The lead cast starring in Atonement.

• 
  Keira Knightley

  Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, The Edge of Love

• 
  Betty White

  Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, The Proposal

• 
  James McAvoy

  The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her, X-Men: Days of Future Past

• B
  Brenda Blethyn

  Pride & Prejudice, Pooh's Heffalump Movie

• 
  Vanessa Redgrave

  Robin Hood, Letters to Juliet

• 
  Juno Temple

  ... Lola Quincey

  Roofman, Venom: The Last Dance

Crew Behind the Film

The Atonement behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

The film's director Joe Wright last directed Cyrano and The Woman in the Window . The film's writer Christopher Hampton last wrote The Father and Adore.

Director

Joe Wright

Screenwriter

Christopher Hampton

Producers

Tim Bevan
Eric Fellner
Paul Webster

Production Details

What we know about the Atonement movie production.

Key Facts

• Based on a novel by Ian McEwan.

Production Updates for Atonement

Dec 2004

Completed

Changed Atonement movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

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Additional Information

All Trailers

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Questions

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