Atonement (2007)

In 1935 England, a precocious 13 year old girl (Saoirse Ronan) witnesses an act of love making between her older sister (Keira Knightley) and her lover (James McAvoy) which she misinterprets as an act of rape. When her teenaged cousin (Juno Temple) is sexually attacked in the night, Ronan accuses McAvoy and she is believed thus sending the innocent McAvoy to prison. The ramifications damage several lives. Based on the novel by Ian McEwan, this is a devastating, heartbreaking film adeptly handled by director Joe Wright. The only flaw, and it's a minor one, is a 5 minute long take without any cuts that takes place during the evacuation of Dunkirk. It's mightily impressive for sure but it seems to be an act of "showing off" rather than contributing anything concrete to the film's narrative. It stands out like a sore thumb. The film would make an excellent companion piece to the 1970 film THE GO BETWEEN. That film deals with the damage a self centered pair of lovers do to a child that has long reaching effects while ATONEMENT deals with the damage a self centered child does to a pair of lovers with similar damage. The Oscar winning score is by Dario Marianelli. With Romola Garai who takes over for Ronan as a young woman, Vanessa Redgrave who takes over for Garai as an older woman and Brenda Blethyn.