Atonement is a 2007 British romantic World War II film directed by Joe Wright. Christopher Hampton adapted the screenplay from the eponymous novel by Ian McEwan. The film focuses on fictional lovers Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and Robbie (James McAvoy), whose lives are ruined when Cecilia's younger sister, Briony (Saoirse Ronan), falsely accuses Robbie of a serious crime. The film opened the 64th Venice International Film Festival on 29 August 2007 and competed for the Golden Lion. The following month it screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. Atonement was released in the United Kingdom by Universal Studios on 7 September 2007. It was then released in the United States by Focus Features on 7 December 2007. The film earned over £84 m