Ian McEwan's acclaimed novel Atonement arrives with stately grandeur on the big screen, keeping that same sense of dreamy otherworldliness and unsettling nervous energy. It's a boldly unconventional period melodrama and a stunning showcase for director Joe Wright who, after his crash-zoom take on Pride & Prejudice, draws another memorable performance out of Keira Knightley.

Knightley plays Cecilia, a reluctant heroine forced to suffer the consequences of a child's lie. Her fate is sealed on one lazy day on the family estate in 1935 when little sister Briony (Saoirse Ronan) sees her near-naked by a fountain with gardener Robbie (James McAvoy). A couple of miscommunications later and Briony--crucially described by Cecilia as "an unreliable witness"--accuses Robbie of molesting her cousin... The uncertainty of how events will unfold is riveting. Wright plays it up with beautifully composed scenes tipped slightly off-kilter--figures looming out of velvet darkness, or a face caught in peripheral vision. The effect is haunting, as are the fractured pieces of the past, which slowly build... There's no denying the film's raw power. Flourishes of "hyper-reality" are grounded by sterling performances from Knightley (defined by a strong and elegantly poised backbone), Romola Garai as the 18-year-old Briony and, above all, James McAvoy. He exudes the essence of humanity in a truly soulful picture.--BBCi-Films

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