Atonement/Pride & Prejudice (2008, DVD)

"Atonement's" storyline spans six decades from the early mid-20th century to the end of it. In real life, what happened took place in the U.K., where "Atonement" was filmed on location.

BAFTA Award-winner (for directing "Pride & Prejudice"), Joe Wright, reunites the Oscar-nominated actress, Keira Knightley, for "Atonement." It's a British romance that stars BAFTA Award nominee (for "The Last King of Scotland"), James McAvoy, paired with Knightley. Oscar-winner (for his adaptation of "Dangerous Liaisons"), Christopher Hampton, adapted Ian McEwan's (2002) best-seller, the novel, "Atonement." Add the 'First Lady of British Cinema', 71yo Vanessa Redgrave to this picture & "Atonement's" already a classic film!

Here's the true story: In 1935, Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan), a 13yo struggling to become a writer, lives in a mansion with all the privileges of being born into a wealthy family. Briony's hyperactive imagination is stoked by the heat during that fated year's hottest day after her family's country estate's aura becomes disrupted by a series of events that she tragically & intentionally links together.

The Tallis' housemaid's well educated son, Robbie Turner (McAvoy), has a class-breaching crush on Cecilia Tallis (Knightley), young Briony's willful older sister. Though he's not yet sure, Robbie hopes that Cecilia feels mutually attracted to him. When Robbie & Cecilia become an item, the heat of their passion exceeds the heat of the room they make love in & Briony sees them. The trouble is, younger Briony has a jealous crush on Robbie. Like a tempest exploding, she runs interference between the couple by making maliciously false accusations against Robbie. Her entire plot is sexually loaded in a multitude of ways, with multiple individuals & engaging in a variety of sexually charged events. Robbie is arrested & found guilty of the sexual crime Briony made up that he never committed. Younger Briony's trumped up charges, don't simply alter Robbie's life; everyone else she involved lives are also permanently changed.

Older Briony (Redgrave) is so guilt-ridden that she is consumed with the need to be forgiven. Circumstances in real life prevent that from transpiring, however. Therefore, in her late 70's by 1999, the acclaimed author calls upon her still active vivid imagination in order to create a means of 'atonement', for her childhood's tragic mistake. Through Older Briony's creative bent & stealth determination to bring the truth into light, she absolves herself by reaching the heights of comprehension of love's power & perseverance~

Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice" is a story of $$ vs. love in Britain during the Georgian era. Mr. Bennet is an English nobleman of Hartfordshire with an overbearing wife & 5 eligible daughters for marriage; beautiful Jane, clever Elizabeth, bookworm Mary, immature Kitty & wild Lydia. When their father dies the Bennet estate will become their unknown cousin's. The security & social status of the family depends upon the daughters marrying into wealth.

When a wealthy nobleman, Mr Bingley, rents a nearby country estate for the summer, he's accompanied by his sister & a wealthier, handsome, prideful Mr. Darcy. As the Bennet sisters vye for favor of the men, their unknown cousin arrives & tries to force 1 into marriage. One falls in love, another makes a hasty move out of pride. Joe wright directs the 2005 4 Oscar-nominated classic period drama. "Atonement" is the best; indebted to Redgrave~