'Masterful' period drama leaves fans 'emotionally wrecked' streaming for free on BBC

Directed by Joe Wright, the 2007 romantic war drama Atonement has premiered on BBC One. The film will also be added to the BBC iPlayer and fans can stream it for free.

Based on Ian McEwan’s 2001 novel of the same name, Atonement stars Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, and Vanessa Redgrave.

With an 83 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the period drama chronicles the consequences of a crime over a span of six decades, starting from the 1930s.

Its official synopsis on the review aggregator website reads: “This sweeping English drama follows the lives of young lovers Cecilia Tallis (Knightley) and Robbie Turner (McAvoy). When the couple are torn apart by a lie constructed by Cecilia's jealous younger sister, Briony (Ronan), all three of them must deal with the consequences. Robbie is the hardest hit, since Briony's deception results in his imprisonment, but hope for Cecilia and her beau increases when their paths cross during World War II.”

In a 2007 interview with Pop Entertainment, McAvoy spoke about acting opposite Knightley in the film and said: “We got on really well. We both were very serious about this film. We both loved these characters. We quite quickly cottoned on in rehearsals that we were on similar pages. We had similar views on what was going to work and what wouldn’t. Also, when you can have a good laugh with somebody, you can communicate with somebody freely… when you can do that, you can start having that thing… chemistry, I suppose.”

While Knightley said of their onscreen chemistry: “I think it has a lot [to do with] it was a fantastic script, a great director. We really got on. I think he’s a sensational actor. Working with him was really, really exciting.”

Reviews of the film were largely positive, with one critic calling it “every bit as emotionally affecting as it is visually sweeping.”

A second critic praised the director and wrote: “Director Joe Wright is quickly establishing himself as a powerhouse adapter of period romance tomes.”

While a third reviewer thought it was “a superbly-made film that all but cries out for Oscar accolades”.

One viewer showered high praise on the film and wrote: “If you enjoy yearning, heartbreak, and crying into your pillow at 2 AM, Atonement is the film for you. It lures you in with dreamy cinematography, a hauntingly beautiful score, and James McAvoy being unfairly attractive—then it emotionally wrecks you. A masterpiece in pain. 10/10 would ruin my evening with it again.”

While another audience review called it: “Heartbreaking, haunting, beautiful, sad, with incredible performances from James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan and more and the sumptuous work of Joe Wright behind the camera, a once in a lifetime type of movie.”

And a third fan said: “The soundtrack, the acting, the cinematography is just masterful. A lovely story and tragedy that uses the war as a character in the film, but manages to portray the fear and sadness of living through and in the war too. It's just a great film to watch if you want to experience what a great piece of considered cinema looks like.”