In England in 1935, precocious 13-year-old Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) lives on her a!

ily"s coun#ry es#a#e $i#h her !o#her and sis#er, %ecilia (&eira &nigh#ley)' %ecilia is ho!e or #he su!!er ro! %a!(rige $here she had (een s#udying $i#h #he house)eeper"s son, Ro((ie (*a!es +c,voy)' She and Ro((ie have an uncer#ain rela#ionship- nei#her is $illing #o ac# on i# (u# a cer#ain ro!an#ic che!is#ry e.is#s (e#$een #he!' /ne day, Briony sees ro! her (edroo! $indo$ an argu!en# (e#$een %ecilia and Ro((ie a# #he oun#ain' Ro((ie acciden#ally (ro)e an an#i0ue vase and a piece o i# ell in#o #he oun#ain' ,ngrily, %ecilia s#ripped #o her under$ear and dove in#o #he oun#ain #o re#rieve i#' Briony is con used a(ou# #he se.ual #ension (e#$een #he #$o o #he!' The Tallises are (eing visi#ed (y young rela#ives ro! #he nor#h -- #he #$ins 1ierro# and *ac)son (2eli. and %harlie von Si!sin) and #heir 15-year-old sis#er, 3ola (*uno Te!ple), $hose paren#s are in #he process o divorcing' 3eon Tallis (1a#ric) &ennedy) (rings his riend 1aul (Benedic# %u!(er(a#ch) or dinner' 1aul )eenly ollo$s 4i#ler"s poli#ical advance and predic#s $ar' 4e plans #o sell chocola#e (ars #o #he Bri#ish !ili#ary #o give #o #heir soldiers' 5hile he #ries #o a!use 1ierro# and *ac)son, 1aul and 3ola lir#' E!(arrassed (y his (ehavior earlier in #he day, Ro((ie #ries #o $ri#e an apology no#e #o %ecilia' /ne o #he dra #s includes a se.ually charged declara#ion o his love or her' 4e #hen $ri#es a !ore or!al apology he in#ends #o deliver #o her' 4o$ever, he acciden#ally gives #he se.ual no#e #o Briony $hile $al)ing #o dinner a# #he Tallises #ha# nigh#- he gives her #he no#e (ecause he (elieves i# $ill (e less e!(arrassing i i# co!es ro! Briony ins#ead o hi!' 5hen he reali6es $ha# he has done, he calls ou# #o Briony (u# she is #oo ar a$ay #o hear hi!' Bac) in #he house, she reads #he no#e and is scandali6ed' She gives #he no#e #o %ecilia (u# la#er con ides #o 3ola #ha# she (elieves Ro((ie is a dangerous se. !aniac' 3ola has co!e #o her $i#h ar! (ruises #ha# she accuses her #$in (ro#hers o giving #o her (u# Briony ignores #he!' Ro((ie arrives or dinner' 4e and %ecilia discuss #he no#e and ad!i# #heir love or one ano#her' They !a)e passiona#e love in #he li(rary (u# are discovered (y Briony' ,# dinner, i# is discovered #ha# 1ierro# and *ac)son have run a$ay' Everyone loo)s or #he!' 5hile loo)ing or #he! (y a cree), Briony s#u!(les on 3ola (eing raped (y so!eone' 4e runs a$ay in#o #he dar)ness' Briony insis#s #o irs# 3ola and #hen #he police #ha# Ro((ie $as #he culpri# and (randishes #he se.ual le##er #o %ecilia as evidence' /nly %ecilia pro#es#s his innocence' 5hen Ro((ie re#urns $i#h #he #$ins, he is arres#ed or rape' Tried and convic#ed, he is sen# #o prison' 2our years la#er he is released in#o #he Bri#ish ar!y and !a)es up par# o #he Bri#ish E.pedi#ionary 2orce #ha# is sen# #o nor#hern 2rance in an a##e!p# #o hal# #he 7a6i advance' In nor#hern 2rance, Ro((ie and #$o ello$ soldiers a##e!p# #o !a)e #heir $ay #o 8un)ir), $here #he re!nan#s o #he BE2 are #o (e evacua#ed a #er #he 7a6is rou# #heir orces and #he 2rench' 4e has a shrapnel $ound in his ches#' Several $ee)s earlier, (e ore he le # 3ondon, he sa$ %ecilia again' She re!ained #rue #o hi! or our years and (egs hi! #o co!e (ac) #o her' She reveals #ha# she has (ro)en con#ac# $i#h her a!ily over her love or Ro((ie and (elie in his innocence' She gives hi! a pho#ograph o a seaside co##age near 8over #ha# #hey can re#ire #o' I# $ill give hi! s#reng#h as he s#ruggles #o$ards 8un)ir)' %ecilia is a nurse in 3ondon' She learns #ha# Briony, no$ 19 (Ro!ola :arai) has decided no# #o s#udy a# %a!(ridge and is #raining #o (e a nurse hersel ' Briony )no$s #ha# Ro((ie did no# rape 3ola, #ha# i# $as 1aul -- #o $ho! 3ola is no$ engaged and $ho has (eco!e a !illionaire selling his candy #o #he Bri#ish ar!y' Briony goes #o see %ecilia #o ad!i# her guil# and s#a#e her $illingness #o do $ha#ever i# #a)es #o a#one or her sins and clear Ro((ie"s na!e' Ro((ie is in %ecilia"s apar#!en# $hen she ge#s #here' ,l#hough #hey are angry $i#h her, #hey #ell her $ha# she needs #o do #o !a)e #hings righ#' She agrees, #hen leaves as %ecilia and Ro((ie are in#i!a#e or one las# #i!e (e ore he is shipped #o 2rance $i#h #he BE2' In 1999, Briony (;anessa Redgrave), no$ in her la#e seven#ies and dying o vascular de!en#ia, is a a!ous novelis#' 4er ne$ (oo), <<,#one!en#<<, $ill (e pu(lished on her (ir#hday' The oregoing narra#ive had (een one she crea#ed or her (oo), as an ac# o a#one!en# or $ha# she did #o Ro((ie and %ecilia' In real li e, she never sa$ %ecilia a #er she le # #he a!ily, and %ecilia and Ro((ie never had a las# #ender !o!en# in her apar#!en# (e ore he le # $i#h #he BE2' Ins#ead, he died a# 8un)ir) o sep#ice!ia, $ai#ing #o (e evacua#ed' %ecilia died a e$ !on#hs la#er $hen a :er!an (o!( (urs# a $a#er !ain and looded #he su($ay #unnel in $hich she and o#her 3ondoners had #a)en re uge during #he Bli#6' Briony hopes #ha#, (y reuni#ing #he!, she gives #he! #he happy conclusion #o #heir lives #ha# #hey deserved and her readers #he hope #ha# everyone needs #o survive' Ro((ie and %ecilia $al) do$n #he (each on a (righ#, (eau#i ul day' /n #he s#eps o #he seaside co##age, #hey loo) a# #he (eau#i ul $hi#e cli s, #hen disappear inside'

*oe 5righ#, #he B,2T, ,$ard-$inning direc#or o 1ride = 1re>udice, has reuni#ed $i#h his il!!a)ing #ea! and his ,cade!y ,$ard-no!ina#ed ac#ress, &eira &nigh#ley, or ano#her classic Bri#ish ro!ance, s#arring *a!es +c,voy (B,2T, ,$ard no!inee or The 3as# &ing o Sco#land) opposi#e +s' &nigh#ley' %hris#opher 4a!p#on (,cade!y ,$ard $inner or 8angerous 3iaisons) has $ri##en #he screenplay adap#a#ion o Ian +cE$ans (es#-selling ?@@? novel ,#one!en#' Sho# on loca#ion in #he A'&', #he il!s s#ory spans several decades' In 1935, 13-year-old ledgling $ri#er Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) and her a!ily live a li e o $eal#h and privilege in #heir enor!ous !ansion' /n #he $ar!es# day o #he year, #he coun#ry es#a#e #a)es on an unse##ling ho#house a#!osphere, s#o)ing Brionys vivid i!agina#ion' Ro((ie Turner (+r' +c,voy), #he educa#ed son o #he a!ilys house)eeper, carries a #orch or Brionys heads#rong older sis#er %ecilia (+s' &nigh#ley)' %ecilia, he hopes, has co!para(le eelings- all i# $ill #a)e is one spar) or #his rela#ionship #o co!(us#' 5hen i# does, Briony $ho has a crush on Ro((ie is co!pelled #o in#er ere, going so ar as accusing Ro((ie o a cri!e he did no# co!!i#' %ecilia and Ro((ie declare #heir love or each o#her, (u# he is arres#ed and $i#h Briony (earing alse $i#ness, #he course o #hree lives is changed orever' Briony con#inues #o see) orgiveness or her childhood !isdeed' Through a #erri(le and courageous ac# o i!agina#ion, she inds #he pa#h #o her uncer#ain a#one!en#, and #o an unders#anding o #he po$er o enduring love'

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The il! s#ar#s ou# $i#h a 13 year old Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) $ri#ing a play #ha# she $an#s #o pu# on #ha# evening or #he re#urn o her older (ro#her 3eon' She runs #hrough #he house and in#o #he garden and inds #$en#y-so!e#hing year old Ro((ie Turner #he house)eeper"s son (*a!es +c,voy) as he is #ending #o #he lo$ers' They e.change conversa#ion and i#s clear #ha# she has a crush on hi! (u# he regards her as a li##le sis#er' 5e #hen see Briony"s !o#her reading #he play and loving i#' The ne.# scene sho$s Briony lying on #he garden $i#h her older sis#er %ecilia (&eira &nigh#ley)' Briony as)s %ecilia $hy she doesn"# #al) #o Ro((ie any!ore, %ecilia says she does, #hey >us# !ove in di eren# circles' Then $e see Briony rehearsing #he play $i#h her cousins, 1ierro# and *ac)son Euincy and #heir older sis#er 3ola (*uno Te!ple)' 3ola is a(ou# 1F or so' The younger (oys 0uic)ly ge# (ored $i#h #he play and go o or a s$i! and Briony i le # alone in #he house' She is loo)ing ou# #he $indo$ and sees %ecilia and Ro((ie ou# (y #he oun#ain in so!e sor# o argu!en#' Then $e see %ecilia s#rip do$n #o her slip and >u!p in#o #he oun#ain #o re#rieve so!e#hing and she co!es ou# and her slip is $e# and sheer and Ro((ie loo)s a$ay as she dresses and leaves' 5e suddenly see #he sa!e scene ro! #he poin# o vie$ o %ecilia and Ro((ie, as #hey are #al)ing $hile $al)ing in#o #he garden, %ecilia is holding an e.pensive vase and as she #ried #o ill i# $i#h $a#er ro! #he oun#ain, Ro((ie #ried #o #a)e i# ro! her #o ill i# and she re uses and #hey pull on i#, (rea)ing #he porcelain' I# alls in#o #he oun#ain, $hich is $ha# %ecilia goes #o re#rieve' 5e #hen see %ecilia in her roo!, s!o)ing, >us# generally ge##ing ready or #he evening' Through her $indo$ she sees her (ro#her 3eon drive up $i#h a riend, so!e rich #ycoon $ho o$ns a chocola#e ac#ory' She sees 3eon #al)ing #o Ro((ie $i#h dis!ay' They !ee# 3eon"s riend, $ho see!s ra#her shady' 3eon, %ecilia and #he riend, 1aul +arshall, are all s$i!!ing I #he la)e and i# is revealed #ha# Ro((ie and %ecilia $en# #o school #oge#her and

#ha# Ro((ie is pursuing a !edical degree' 3eon in or!s %ecilia #ha# he has invi#ed Ro((ie #o dinner, and %ecilia is upse# a# #his' The scene #hen cu#s #o Ro((ie in his co##age #yping a le##er #o %ecilia, #rying #o apologi6e or his (ehavior earlier #ha# day' 4e #ypes several dra #s (e ore inally #yping a ra#her raunchy se.ual le##er #o her' 5hile he is #yping $e see #he scene cu# (ac) and or#h (e#$een hi! and %ecilia ge##ing ready and pu##ing clips in her hair' (I!por#an#) 4e laughs as he $ri#es i#, #hen olds i# up and places i# ne.# #o his #ype$ri#er' 4e #hen hand$ri#es a very hear# el# apology and goes #o ge# ready or dinner #ha# evening' ,s he $al)s do$n #he lane #o #he !ain house he sees Briony playing in #he garden and as)s her #o deliver #he le##er #o %ecilia, $hich she does' ,s she is running #o #he house, $e see Ro((ie suddenly re!e!(er #ha# he pu# #he $rong le##er in #he envelope and in ac#, #he raunchy le##er is (eing delivered' 4e screa!s or Briony (u# i#s #oo la#e and she is already in #he house and is reading #he le##er' She #hen delivers i# #o %ecilia, (u# $i#hou# #he envelope, so %ecilia )no$s #ha# she has read i#' 5e #hen see 1aul +arshall $andering #hrough #he house and co!es across #he cousins, 1ierro#, *ac)son and 3ola' 4e en#er#ains #he children (u# i# is also clear #ha# he is in#eres#ed in 3ola' 3a#er on Briony goes #o her roo! #o change or dinner and 3ola en#ers her roo!, co!plaining a(ou# (eing #or#ured (y her li##le (ro#hers' Briony #a)es #his oppor#uni#y #o #ell 3ola $ha# $as $ri##en in #he raunchy le##er, calling Ro((ie a se.ual !aniac' She #hen ge#s ready or dinner and is running do$n #he s#airs $hen she sees a s!all hairclip on #he loor' She pic)s i# up and sees a ligh# shining #hrough a door$ay, she ollo$s i# #o see Ro((ie and %ecilia in an a$)$ard posi#ion agains# #he $all o #he li(rary, o(viously having !ade love >us# !o!en#s (e ore' 5e see Briony"s #eary ace >us# as #he scene cu#s #o Ro((ie ringing #he door(ell or dinner' %ecilia ans$ers #he door and he #ried #o apologi6e or giving #he $rong version o #he le##er' %ecilia #a)es hi! #o #he li(rary and (asically #hey ad!i# #heir a##rac#ion #o one ano#her and s#ar# )issing and having se. up agains# #he $all' In #he !iddle o i# #hey #ell each o#her #hey love one ano#her and #hen con#inue, un#il %ecilia hears #he door open and Briony $al) in' They disen#angle #he!selves and leave #he roo!, $i#h Briony >us# $a#ching #he!' ,# dinner #hey all pre#end no#hing"s happened, un#il +rs' Tallis no#ices #ha# #he young #$in (oys aren"# a# dinner so Briony is sen# #o ge# #he!' She co!es (ac) do$n and in or!s #he group #ha# #he (oys have run a$ay, so a search par#y is i!!edia#ely or!ed' Briony #a)es a lashligh# and se# ou# alone and s#u!(les across a !an $i#h his pan#s do$n on #op o 3ola' ,s soon as #he lashligh# shines on #he! he runs a$ay, (u# you don"# see his ace' 3ola is crying and Briony runs up #o her, as)ing her $ho #he !an $as' 3ola isn"# sure as her eyes $ere covered, (u# Briony convinces her i#s Ro((ie' 3ola is (rough# in#o #he house and #he police are called and Briony #es#i ies #ha# i# $as Ro((ie $ho a##ac)ed 3ola and she is sure she sa$ hi!' %ecilia #ells #he police no# #o (elieve Briony as she is a anci ul girl (u# as soon as Ro((ie co!es (ac) #o #he house, having ound #he #$o young (oys, #he police #a)e hi! a$ay' The !ovie cu#s #o G years la#er and $e see Ro((ie in 2rance $i#h #$o o#her priva#es in #he ar!y, as i# is no$ 55?' They as) hi! $ha# an educa#ed !an li)e hi! is doing as a priva#e, #o $hich Ro((ie responds, you can"# ge# pro!o#ed i you"ve co!e ou# o prison and he $as given a choice, s#ay in prison, or >oin #he ar!y' Then $e see a scene ro! si. !on#hs earlier $here Ro((ie and %ecilia !ee# a #er 3 and 1H? years and a #er so!e a$)$ard conversa#ion #hey declare #heir love or one ano#her a #er all #his #i!e' %ecilia has (eco!e a nurse no$ in 3ondon and is living in an apar#!en# and doesn"# spea) #o her sis#er Briony or her a!ily any!ore' Ro((ie re#urns #o #he $ar (u# #hey con#inue #o $ri#e le##ers, %ecilia #ells hi! o a co##age (y #he sea #hey can visi# #he ne.# #i!e he is on leave and gives hi! a pic#ure o i# #o hold on #o' 5e see hi! #hroughou# #he il!, going #hrough (a##le and loo)ing a# #he sa!e pic#ure every chance he ge#s' %ecilia also #ells hi! #ha# Briony is no$ in 7urses #raining and has $ri##en #o her, as)ing #o #al)' 5e #hen see a 19 year old Briony, in her nurses uni or!, #rying #o i# in a# #he hospi#al' She $ri#es #o %ecilia, as)ing #o #al) and #elling her she only no$ reali6es #he ull e.#en# o her alse #es#i!ony years ago' 5e see Ro((ie $ounded in 2rance and $ai#ing or #he roundup o soldiers #o (e #a)en #o #he hospi#al and #hen see Briony and #he o#her nurses #ending #o in>ured soldiers' She i!agines #ha# she sees Ro((ie (u# he isn"# #here' Several days la#er Briony #hen leaves #he hospi#al #o a##end #he $edding o 1aul +arshall, $ho is !arrying her cousin 3ola' 3ola sees Briony a# #he $edding (u# ignores her' Briony #hen goes #o %ecilia"s apar#!en# and (egs #o #al) #o her, #o apologi6e' She sees Ro((ie #here, $ho $an#s #o (rea) her nec) (u# ins#ead Ro((ie and %ecilia !a)e Briony i. $ha# she has done $rong and change her s#a#e!en#' Briony ad!i#s #ha# she sa$ 1aul +arshall a##ac)ing 3ola #ha# nigh# in #he garden and #hey (eco!e upse# (ecause 1aul has >us# !arried 3ola so he has i!!uni#y' 5e see Briony agree #o change her s#a#e!en# and she leaves and $e see %ecilia and Ro((ie inally #oge#her in #he apar#!en#, )issing' Then Briony is on a #rain and suddenly #he screen goes (lac) and a $o!an says, can $e s#op or a !o!en#' 5e cu# #o presen# day and $e see an old Briony Tallis (;anessa Redgrave) (eing in#ervie$ed a(ou# her la#es#

(oo), #i#led ,#one!en#' She e.plains ho$ i# is her las# (oo) (ecause she is dying and she $an#ed #o (e co!ple#ely hones# a(ou# all #he even#s o #he si#ua#ion' She ad!i#s ho$ever #ha# she $asn"# hones# a(ou# one par#' Tha# she never $en# #o her sis#er #ha# day #o as) or orgiveness and #ha# Ro((ie $as never #here (ecause he died o sep#ice!ia in 2rance $ai#ing #o (e #a)en #o #he hospi#al a e$ !on#hs earlier' She also says #ha# she never go# #o se# #hings righ# $i#h her sis#er (ecause she $as )illed in a (o!( (las# a e$ !on#hs a #er Ro((ie died' Briony ad!i#s #ha# she has had #o live $i#h #his #ru#h all her li e so she changed i# in her (oo), in order #o give %ecilia and Ro((ie #heir chance #o (e #oge#her in her (oo), i no# in real li e' The las# scene sho$s %ecilia and Ro((ie playing on #he (each and #hen going in#o #he co##age #ha# %ecilia had #al)ed a(ou# earlier and #he !ovie ends' 1age las# upda#ed (y ($hi##e)in, 9 !on#hs ago