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Film Review: Atonement – A Perfect Yet Heartbreaking Adaptation

Atonement Film Review

Atonement is an adaptation of the novel by Ian McEwan and a gorgeous period drama set during three different time periods. Like the novel, it explores love, class, war, lies and the very act of storytelling itself.

Atonement the worst possible word

On a scorching midsummer day, a young girl witnesses something she doesn’t understand between her sister Cecelia and the housekeeper’s son, Robbie Turner. What she decides to do next will alter irrevocably the lives of everyone present on that day.

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Atonement is directed by Joe Wright and boasts an all-star cast and several young talents who had yet to become household names. Harriet Walter, Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Juno Temple, Benedict Cumberbatch, Romola Garai, Alfie Allen, Vanessa Redgrave and a very young Saoirse Ronan to name a few. To have actors of such caliber all working together imbues the film with an even greater sense of importance than its excellent source material already provided. The acting by all is pitch perfect; the director clearly does not waste the talent he has surrounded himself with.

Atonement Robbie war

It is a beautiful, perfectly paced adaptation of a modern masterpiece. Being quite familiar with the book I’d say that it is extremely close to the source material. This wouldn’t always work but McEwan’s novel lends itself well to the screen, being quite visual in his prose. More importantly, Atonement captures the essence of the novel.

The film makes use of sound in a unique way in its score to inform the pace. The rhythm of a typewriter or percussive noises made by the characters matches up with the music to create a truly unusual soundtrack. Scene changes are often accompanied by the sound of a typewriter roll being pushed back into place. Considering what we learn about the entire story later on, this seems especially apt.

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It is a perfectly crafted film. There are little to no unnecessary frames and each of them is visually stunning, even the devastation at the beach is beautiful in its way.

Atonement Ceclia waits for Robbie

Robbie and Cecelia’s love story is bittersweet and touching; full of missed chances and the cruel twists of fate. But what moments they do have are passionate and heart-wrenching.

Atonement prefer Feilding any day

Atonement is a wonderful, heart-breaking film that you must see at least once (especially if you are a writer). Just maybe have a tissue ready when you do.

Content Note: This film is rated R and there are a quite a few instances of brief profanity, especially by one particular character during the war scenes. There is a mild sex scene without nudity early on in the film and an implied rape with a brief shot of the man’s bare buttocks. Many bloody injuries are shown in the hospital scenes. Horses are shot rather than be left for the enemy in the background on the beach scene. Overall, however, the film is more artistic than that of an explicit nature.


Photo Credits: Universal

What did you think about Atonement? Sound off below…

OVERALL RATING

Five Corset Rating Lower Byte Size

“The stuff that dreams are made of.”

ROMANCE RATING

Five heart rating

“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.

I have loved none but you.”

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By on April 27th, 2016

About Elinor Cackett

Elinor is a writer and semi-recent graduate of English and Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University. She has been writing ever since she could hold a pen but her love affair with fiction started when the entirety of David Eddings’ 'The Belgariad' was read to her at age four. She currently has a couple of books and half a dozen short stories on the go. She spends her free time writing, analysing media and knitting very colourful scarves.

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