"Atonement" stars Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Vanessa Redgrave and Saoirse Ronan strutted down the Palazzo del Cinema's catwalk along with helmer Joe Wright, Working Title co-topper Eric Fellner and Universal co-chair David Linde.

Joely Richardson and jury member Rupert Everett were also on hand to beef up the Blighty contingent.

Following opening-night speeches from Biennale prexy Davide Croff and fest director Marco Mueller, attendees were treated to the world preem of the Ian McEwan adaptation.

The ceremony segued into a lavish dinner as 1,200 guests partied the night away at a dinner on the Excelsior beach decked out in a 1940s theme matching the WWII backdrop of the opening-night pic. The only explosions here, though, were the fireworks that lit up the Lagoon.