Atonement, the acclaimed 1930s-set drama starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, is on TV tonight.
The 2007 film, based on Ian McEwan’s 2001 novel of the same names, sees the pair portray lovers Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner as they are torn apart by the Second World War and a damaging lie by her younger sister, Briony (Saoirse Ronan).
Adapted by playwright Christopher Hampton and directed by Joe Wright, the film boasts a stacked cast of major British talent, with Benedict Cumberbatch, Brenda Blethyn, Daniel Mays, Vanessa Redgrave and Gina McKee appearing in supporting roles.
What to Read Next
Still a popular period drama nearly two decades on from its original release, Atonement can be viewed once again when it airs at 11pm on BBC Two tonight. If you’re not able to catch it at that time, then you’re in luck as it will be added to BBC iPlayer afterwards.
The film was acclaimed by critics upon its release as it won two BAFTA Awards – including Best Film – while accruing seven Academy Award nominations, with its Rotten Tomatoes approval rating standing at an impressive 83% from 217 reviews.
Universal
Related: Best streaming services UK 2025 — including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV+
“Imagination typically should be encouraged in children, but an excess of it leads to tragedy in this more than worthy adaptation of Ian McEwan’s 2001 novel,” noted the Austin Chronicle, while New York Magazine called it “absorbing” and “evocative”.
Empire Magazine was also full of praise as they lauded Wright’s “assured direction”, the “near-faultless performances” from the cast and the “gorgeous cinematography”, adding that it was a “complex” and “devastating” piece of work.
“What a clever, ambitious, compassionate picture it is; what a success for Joe Wright and for Knightley and McAvoy. It’s a film which aims at big ideas, and it treats us like grownups,” opined The Guardian.
Universal
Related: Here’s your first look at Siobhan Finneran’s new British film as it gets an exciting update
“It’s some kind of miracle. Written, directed and acted to perfection, Atonement sweeps you up on waves of humour, heartbreak and ravishing romance,” wrote Rolling Stone, while BBC.com said the film was “riveting”.
While Atonement will be on terrestrial TV and streaming in the coming hours, Knightley will soon be seen in altogether light as she appears in The Woman in Cabin 10, a tense thriller set to be released on Netflix in October.
Atonement is airing on BBC Two at 11pm before being added to BBC iPlayer.
Digital Spy’s new print issue is here! Buy Oasis – Live in ’25 in newsagents or online, now priced at just £8.99.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.