Atonement (2007)

I admit I watched this purely because of the library scene so I had no idea that it was going to be a war movie. I think that kind of threw me off because I expected more romance and less trauma. Regardless, I still enjoyed this. I came away feeling sorry for Briony. I feel like it's easy to hate her and blame her for everything but I think it should also be considered that she was 13 years old when it happened and there is someone else, an adult (the chocolate man), who should have stepped in and cleared Robbie's name if he was a decent person.

The tension in the film was really palpable - Cecelia's and Robbie's sexual tension, Cecelia's tension with her family and especially Briony. The first half of the movie set in their mansion was really beautiful and scenic. I kind of wish there were more of that and less of the war but that would have been a completely different movie.