25 of the most swoon-worthy romance movies of all time
By Amy Kaplan
Atonement
This is yet another period-piece drama with an underlying romance to it that just tugs at my heartstrings. This one though is probably the most tragic of all the love stories ‚— which makes it that much more important to me.
This drama is based on the book by Ian McEwan and follows the lives of young lovers Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy). When the couple is torn apart by a lie constructed by Cecilia’s jealous younger sister Briony (played by Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, and Vanessa Redgrave throughout the film), their love affair is forced to end. Briony’s deception results in Robbie being sent to prison and his life torn apart forever. However, the pair cross paths again during WWII and there may just be hopes for Briony to make things right — or can she? I don’t want to give the ending away but if you can walk away without a broken heart you’re probably not human.
The film is beautiful in its own right, aside from the story, due in part to costuming and camera tricks. Reportedly the director put Christian Dior stockings that were stretched over the camera lens to get the soft focus look that the film is so famous for. Several fashion magazines ranked Knightly’s green dress as The Best of All Time, beating out Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Marilyn Monroe’s white dress in The Seven Year Itch.
The authentic attention to detail throughout the film cannot be outdone, from stained glass windows to the eight U.K. military ambulances from WWII that were used (all that remain from the war).
Fun Fact: Okay, there’s no fun fact about this movie because it’s so devastatingly sad it would just seem wrong.
Release date: December 7, 2007