The Ending Just as we think that all wrongs have been righted and love has prevailed over all obstacles, Atonement throws us a nasty little curve-ball as an elderly Briony (Vanessa Redgrave) reveals that the ending to her novel where Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and Robbie (James McAvoy) are reunited after the war is fictional. In reality the star-crossed lovers both perished during the war Robbie never made it out of Dunkirk and Celia drowned in the bombing of Balham tube station. Briony has written the novel with the hope of exorcising herself of some of the guilt she rightfully feels at the lives shes ruined. Depressing Because Its a horrible feeling seeing two characters who have fought and suffered to be together finally overcome all obstacles only to be unceremoniously told that the idyllic scenes you want so badly to believe in are nothing more than a farce. Though excruciatingly sad, this use of meta-narrative in Atonement is a highly effective one. The fate of Briony is a subject of great sadness in its own right, an old lady enfettered to the decisions of her stupid 13-year-old self for her whole adult life. A Silver Lining? At least Cecilia and Robbie will be immortalised in Brionys writing, able to be together and transcend time through prose Not a great deal of consolation really.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
