Atonement: The Movie

Ailidh Mackay ... Singing Housemaid
Brenda Blethyn ... Grace Turner
Romola Garai ... Briony Tallis - Age 18
Saoirse Ronan ... Briony Tallis - Age 13
Julia West ... Betty
James McAvoy ... Robbie Turner
Harriet Walter ... Emily Tallis
Keira Knightley ... Cecilia Tallis
Juno Temple ... Lola Quincey
Felix von Simson ... Pierrot Quincey
Charlie von Simson ... Jackson Quincey
Alfie Allen ... Danny Hardman
Patrick Kennedy ... Leon Tallis
Benedict Cumberbatch ... Paul Marshall
Peter Wight ... Police Inspector

As I mentioned earlier, the marketing seemed misleading to me and I almost missed seeing this movie because of it. Yes, there is a romance at the center of this story, but the scope of the film is more than that. For one thing, the main character is not one of the lovers, but Briony (Saoirse Ronan) , the younger sister of Cecilia (Kiera Knightly).

Briony is an imaginative, innocent girl of thirteen years old at the start of the film. A young writer, she lives largely in her creative fantasies. She is also discovering confusing emotions as she enters adolescence. At this sensitive stage, she observes actions and events which are beyond her experience and ability to understand. It also inflames jealousy because she has developed an infatuation with Robbie (James McAvoy). This leads Briony, as an eye witness, to testify falsely to the police that Robbie was the man whom she saw rape her teenage cousin.

Robbie goes to jail and Cecilia is forbidden to visit, write or have any contact with him. Years later, Cecilia and Briony are the only two who know he is innocent. As she grows up, Briony sees the consequences of what she did unfold and begins to comprehend the terrible pain and suffering she has caused. The guilt weighs on her and she tries to find a way to make things right.

The central themes are the nature of truth and the search for forgiveness and peace. Because Atonement presents several different characters' points of view of some central events and uses a non-linnear narrative structure, the viewer must pay close attention. It is the kind of film that benefits from multiple viewings to appreciate the details and help make connections that may have been missed the first time. It also prompts thought and grows deeper with discussion and debate. The R rating is very appropriate as it deals with adult issues and contains a very passionate sex scene, though minimally graphic.

A Sinner's Tale

An important part of the atmosphere of this film is the great period costumes. It begins in 1935 and follows the characters through World War II. The movie was nominated for Best Costume Design at the Oscars.

Interview with Atonement's Costume Designer, Jacqueline Durran

A recent poll rated the green silk dress Keira wore as the best movie costume ever. Here is the complete list.

The "Best Film Costumes Of All Time"
1. Keira Knightley's green gown in Atonement
2. Marilyn Monroe's white dress in The Seven Year Itch
3. Audrey Hepburn's little black dress in Breakfast At Tiffany's
4. Olivia Newton-John's tight leather trousers in Grease
5. Kate Winslet's blue gown Titanic
6. Diane Keaton's quirky tie and waistcoat combination in Annie Hall
7. Nicole Kidman's satin corset in Moulin Rouge
8. Liza Minnelli's stockings and bowler hat in Cabaret
9. Cate Blanchett's sumptuous gown in Elizabeth: The Golden Age
10. Vivien Leigh's billowing dresses in Gone With The Wind

Here are a couple of good articles about the costumes and the poll. There are great pictures of the costumes.

Celebrity Juice: Keira Knightly's Dress Scoops Costume Poll
After Elton: The Best Film Costume of All Time?

Dario Marianelli won the Oscar for Best Original Score for Atonement. The soundtrack builds the emotion and adds to the tension of this movie. It also uses some unique musical devices. The most noticeable is the percussive sound of manual typewriter keys. This supports the period, main character, and a central theme of the film. Briony is a budding young writer with a vivid and romantic imagination. The typewriter is her tool. It also represents the power of words to shape our understanding and perceptions of the truth.

Unusual Film Adaptations of Literature
These four movies are not by the book. They offer surprises and explore new dimensions of their source material.

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