Rating of
3/4
What one lie can do
patjohnson76 - wrote on 01/21/08
I went into this movie not really knowing what to expect - would it be romance, drama, war, etc. Turns out it's all of those told in a very interesting way. Knightley and McAvoy are excellent as lovers torn apart by a misunderstanding from a young girl. The first act sets this up, the second shows how the estrangement affects them both (mainly McAvoy, who goes to war over prison), and the final act is how the young girl, now 5 years later "atones" for what she realizes was wrong. The final few moments are devastating as Vanessa Redgrave makes the most of her small screen time and wraps up the story. The film works based on its strong performances, excellent direction and smart cinematography. There's a great scene in the middle that lasts for about 5 minutes as McAvoy and two comrades stumble upon a Paris city devasted by battle, as the three walk through absolute chaos. There scene stands out as it clearly was done all in one take. It's small moments like this that make you appreciate the work and direction of everyone involved.
