Fav War Drama: Atonement

If you find a movie that includes:

• World War (preferably II) setting
• British setting
• Based on true events
• Tragic story
• Benedict Cumberbatch

Then count me in. Or just let me watch it and let it consumes me for a couple of weeks. :p

Given the list, I can say that Atonement is one of my favorite movies. It's a fiction based on a novel with the same title, a war drama that is clearly inspired by the WW II as a background setting. This British movie casts my sherlockbaby Benedict Cumberbatch (not as a main character though) and is a tragic story. Plus, its amazing music background or "score" adds the melancholia which I always feel everytime I listen to it now.

Set in 1930 countryside of England, the story tells moments of misunderstanding around Cecilia, Briony, and Robbie. Cecilia and Briony are sisters from a wealthy family while Robbie is the housekeeper's son. Cecilia "Cee" and Robbie apparently attracts to each other and the innocent 13yo little sister feel kind of "alarmed" because Robbie has always been a nice person to Briony.

One time, Robbie wanted to send an apology letter because in the earlier noon, he broke a vase which then made Cee had to dive in a pond to find the piece. This broken vase scene was also the key because when Cee jumped out the pond, her clothes were all wet and Robbie just stood there watching her, intrigued by her look--and those were witnessed by Briony from a far. Consumed by lust after that moment, Robbie wrote a letter with a "sexual content" but then he put aside and started to write a formal one. Robbie then asked Briony to hand it to Cee.

Unfortunately, the letter was the first one. To make it worse, Briony read it, which made her more disturbed. Later that night, when the family had dinner together, Cee and Robbie finally confessed to each other and made love in Cee's house library. Again, out of curiosity, Briony trailed Cee's fallen earring and eventually found them in the library. Gosh, talking about personal space, Briony!

Cecilia, Briony, and Robbie

By witnessing their "romance activity", Briony was more convinced that Robbie was a "sex maniac harrasing her sister". In the middle of dinner, Briony's twin cousin gone missing and everybody searched for them, including the three. Briony then saw a man assaulting her other cousin and told everyone that it was Robbie who did it (while Robbie was the one who found the twin cousin who were gone missing). She showed the wrong letter to the police, as a proof that Robbie was always such a "bad guy".

Long story short, Robbie was put in jail and he decided to join the British army in order to got out of jail. Cee and Robbie met once before Robbie went to war and promised each other to wait and come back to build a life together. Can they fulfill their promises?

----

Just when after Robbie got into prison, the story became tragic because it shows how Cee, Robbie, and Briony lived their own lives, separated from each other. Of how Cee was devastated and never talked to her family after the dinner. Of how Robbie suffered emotional and physical pain during the war. Especially, of how Briony was filled with regret because she accused Robbie for a crime he didn't do.

The ending was quite a plot twist. I love it.

Atonement's score is all instrumental, I thought it would be suitable to be listened to while working but turns out I get so emotional and imagine the scenes instead. The sound of violin, piano, and a choir creates eerily beautiful tunes. The composer won an award for the score, though. Well deserved.

Well, if you like the war drama, especially set in British during WWII, this movie is a must-watch. I'm also gonna buy the book next month! Yay, so excited! If you guys have another recommendation on this genre, please let me know. ;)

Cheers!

#31dayswritingchallenge #day24