I didn't catch this one in the cinema for some reason but I decided to borrow the DVD after having heard good things about it.

Set in pre-WW2 Britain, a well off family and their semi-distant relations are arranging a dinner to welcome some visitors. 13 year old, Briony is an avid writer and has her relatives act out her latest plays.

One afternoon she sees something that she shouldn't through the window. She sees her older sister climbing out of the fountain under the watchful gaze of their neighbour. After Mis-interpreting the situation, and a couple of other incidents between her sister and the neighbour, she jumps to the wrong conclusion when her cousin gets attacked.

The neighbour goes to jail and her sister (Kiera Knightly - Pirates of the Carribbean) is distraught. A few years later, during the war we meet the seperated lovers and the now grown up Briony in nursing college.

I can't tell you any more without spoiling the plot. The story is about how one lie changed the lives of two people and how keeping the secret dogged the life of another for her life.

This is a slow paced film, with some clever plot devices to keep you interested. It was, I'm afraid a tad slow for my liking, though the second half of the film which is set during the War in Europe did keep my attention a bit. This was mainly because of the portrayal of the retreat and how the soldiers dealt with this.

Not a bad film, with a clear message, but not one I'd watch again by myself.

see also:
Slumdog Millionaire, 21, The Last King of Scotland, The Wrestler

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photo © Focus Features.