Critics praise Knightley's performance

Keira Knightley is being tipped for an Oscar nomination after critics saw the world premiere of her latest film, 'Atonement', at the Venice Film Festival last night.

The film, directed by Joe Wright, was chosen as the curtain-raiser for the prestigious festival and is being hailed as one of the strongest British films in years.

Adapted from the wartime novel by Ian McEwan, it is in official competition for the Golden Lion award for best film and has been warmly received by critics.

Knightley, 22, plays Cecilia Tallis, an upper class beauty whose fledgling love affair with the housekeeper’s son (James McAvoy) is destroyed by a tragic misunderstanding.

Both actors are praised by David Gritten, in today’s Daily Telegraph.

He said: “Knightley and McAvoy have surely clinched their place as world-class lead actors.”

He predicted 'Atonement' will figure strongly in the awards season and described it as “a startlingly fine piece of movie-making, one that elevates its director Joe Wright to the international pantheon”.

James Christopher, in The Times, wrote: “Working with Wright has opened up Knightley’s acting; the range of her performance here means that she has a tilt, at least, at an Oscar nomination.”

But Christopher went on to say the film became a “grim slog” after a strong start.

Geoffrey McNab, for the Independent, said: “The strength of the film lies in its extraordinary visual imagination and in the intensity the young actors bring to their roles.”

Christopher Tookey, in the Daily Mail, said “the film is always gripping” but said Knightley’s performance as Cecilia Tallis might be too “brittle, unpleasant and snobbish” to gain the sympathy of viewers.

Knightley posed in a pale pink strapless gown by Chanel at yesterday’s premiere.

She played down her Oscar chances, saying: “As far as awards go, that’s neither here nor there. 'Atonement' was a complete gift. I read the script and I cried. Any script that makes you cry is worth pursuing.”

She was joined outside the Palazzo del Cinema by McAvoy, who was there with his actress wife Anne-Marie Duff.

Wright was accompanied by his girlfriend, actress Rosamund Pike.

At her first premiere was 13-year-old Saoirse Ronan, who plays Knightley’s younger sister Briony in the film. Ronan has also been praised by critics in today’s reviews.

'Atonement' is one of several British films vying for the Venice Golden Lion.

The others are: 'Sleuth', a remake of the 1972 whodunnit directed by Kenneth Branagh with Jude Law and Michael Caine in the title roles; 'It’s A Free World', Ken Loach’s study of migrant labour in the UK; and 'Nightwatching', Peter Greenaway’s Rembrandt mystery starring Martin Freeman.