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On arriving on the beach at Dunkirk, Robbie is told of the sinking of the Lancastria and the loss of 3000 men. This event actually occurred 17 days later on June 17 1940. See more...

Atonement (2007) - 5 corrections

starring James McAvoy, Keira Knightley (add more)

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, War

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In the approach to Dunkirk, Robbie is carrying a pistol, complete with webbing holster. He has no rifle and is carrying a bayonet on his haversack, presumably not having the usual belt frog to carry it more easily. As a Private (this is emphasized in the dialogue) in an infantry regiment, he'd have carried a rifle and not a pistol. Although he might have acquired the pistol during the retreat, he's less likely to have changed his webbing order to match. This may be a deliberate directorial choice. The dialogue emphasizes his natural "officer qualities", and that his prison record has prevented him from becoming one. The wearing of officer's equipment, even if historically inappropriate, also reinforces this and distinguishes him from his comrades. [It is quite possible that Robbie would be carrying a pistol with appropriate webbing, even though only a private. One commander of a BEF battalion complained that one third of his soldiers were "only armed with pistols" in 1940. Usually this happened when the unit was a motorcycle or armoured unit being used as infantry. Individual privates, eg drivers or despatch riders, might also be equipped with pistols.]

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Correction Edit text Duplicate X

The BEF was a professional army and was not staffed with conscripted prisoners. [Robbie wasn't conscripted [forced into service], he was offered parole in exchange for joining the army. He was a free man once he entered the army.]

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Correction Edit text Duplicate X

In the fake newsreel of the chocolate factory owned by Paul Marshall, the British ruler at the time (June, 1940) is shown and stated to be Queen Elizabeth. In reality, Queen Elizabeth II did not ascend the throne until 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI. [The Queen shown in the newsreel was the then Queen Elizabeth, the mother of the present monarch. The wife of King George VI was correctly presented as "Queen Elizabeth". Even after her husband's death her correct title was "Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother".]

Edit Corrected by Ioreth Time