Therefore, Briony decided to reunite the couple in her book as a way to compensate for the happiness that she robbed them when they were alive. The film ends with Cecilia and Robbie happily reunited nearby the sea house they planned to visit once Robbie came back from the army.

Does atonement have a good ending?

In fact, the happy ending is complete fiction; both Robbie and Cecilia died – Robbie from his infected wound, and Cecilia from the bombing of a Tube station during the Blitz. Atonement is Briony's final attempt to repent for her actions.

Does Briony achieve atonement?

Ian McEwan's novel Atonement depicts a story told from the perspectives of three of the main characters: Briony Tallis, Robbie Turner, and Cecelia Tallis. However, Briony is never able to achieve atonement. ... Regardless of the efforts Briony makes, she cannot truly achieve atonement.