Set during the WWII, Atonement, adapted from the novel with the same name by Ian McEwan, is a movie dealing with guilt. The guilt that Briony Tallis feels for having accused an innocent young man and destroying the love and the lives of Robbie and her sister Cecilia. It’s also about false perceptions. What Briony does is not so much to destroy Robbie but because she believes he is evil and is harming her sister. One can’t ignore also the fact that she seemed to have a special relationship with him and might have felt betrayed by the feelings she guesses in both of them. The viewer is confronted with both sides of a scene and it’s interesting how in fact the same action can have two totally different viewings.
Regarding the treatment of the subject we feel the younger Briony has a lot more impact as a character than the later Briony. One actually feels for her actions and victims in a way that doesn’t have a correspondence when she is a young woman and finally realizes the truth. It would be interesting to have the assumption of guilt be as painful and emotional as the first half of the movie was. How can someone atone for a bad action if there is no sense of redemption? The emotional connection to the characters that is established at first isn’t present anymore.
The first half of the movie seems vibrant and strong, like Keira Knightley’s green dress during the dinner party, whereas the second half seems almost devoid of colour with its war scenes and the distant relationhisp between the sisters.
The story seems to work much better in the beginning, while on the Tallis estate, than it does after everything changes. When the older Briony speaks of the atonement of her sins doesn’t seem enough and, in the end, we are left feeling unsatisfied and even frustated in behalf of Cecilia and Robbie.
Saoirse Ronan does an excellent job as the curious and irritating Briony. James McAvoy is perfect as the charming and strong Robbie and even Keira Knightley seems better here than in other movies we’ve seen her. She clearly has the physique for those 1920s dresses.
Certainly a movie not to be missed, even if somehow we finish wanting for more.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I haven’t read the book and I liked the movie, even though I agree with you that it is sometimes a bit dull in the 2nd part.
Saoirse Ronan does a great job, and I hated Briony, she destroyed the love and life of two innocent people and lives her life without getting what she deserves.
McAvoy…. sigh… Oh McAvoy… :P
I read the book and watched the movie, and for once think this is a pretty good adaptation. One thing though, in the book I hated Briony alright but I also hated Cecilia and sorry to say, didn’t pity her in the least. I know, I’m a bad person! :-P
And McAvoy? Blergh! *runs*
LOLOLOL fight! Fight! Fight!
Sorry, I got carried away! :-)
I must say I haven’t read the book yet so I can’t really comment on the adaptation part. Why did you hate Cecilia?
The characters in the book are less sympathetic… I also hated Briony and Cecilia very much and Robbie was not attractive or even that interesting. The movie improved them all.
Poor McAvoy! He is quite funny in Wanted. ;-)
Now I’m wondering if I should read the book or not…
I won’t definetly read the book! :P You know me and what I think of historical novels. I just like the movies ;)
And blergh is to your dirty Christian Bale, Miss Ana O.! McAvoy yummy!!! :D
Xiu! Christian Bale is a god! :P
I was annoyed and frustrated at Cecilia and Robbie for not talking to Briony about what she saw……AT ALL. Who does that? I mean sure it’s an embarrassing situation but if a kid saw something you know they don’t have the emotional maturity to understand wouldn’t you stop to talk about it??!
Possible Spoilers****
I hated Briony and what EXACTLY was her “Atonement”? She didn’t atone for ANYTHING. So she wrote them their HEA big whoop. I thought the young Briony did a fabulous job though.
Personally, I like both Bale and McAvoy :)
And I’m with Fantasma, I’m not a huge historical reader but I LOVE the movies.
Have you guys done anything on The Duchess yet? I saw it and have been anxiously awaiting your opinions….. :)
I’m with Mollie … especially on the Briony bit!
McAvoy AND Bale? ::swoon::
just to let you know…it’s WWII. WWI was 1914-1918..and this takes place 1935 and 1940’s.