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Movie Review: Atonement

A 13-year-old misinterprets the sexual encounter of her sister with the servant's son, resulting in serious life-altering consequences for all. Here's what our reviewer thought of the film.

Review by Tanya Reagor

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Name of Film: Atonement

Director: Joe Wright

Lead Actors: Keira Knightly (as Cecilia) and James McAvoy (as Robbie)

The Story: A 13-year-old misinterprets the sexual encounter of her sister (Cecilia) with the servant's son (Robbie), and then believes him responsible for the rape of her cousin later that evening, giving false testimony against him. This results in serious life-altering consequences for all when Robbie is imprisoned. After serving six years of his sentence, he is granted early release provided that he serve in the British Army during WWII.

Review: This film adaptation of the novel written by Ian McEwan begins in 1935, in a beautiful castle-like English country estate. The furnishings, gardens, and period costume are all lovely. This loveliness, however, is brief. The screen writer, British playwright Christopher Hamilton, never seems to solidify the characters but takes you through complete and utter sadness with them. Director Joe Wright uses dark, dreary and stagnant sets that add to the emotional downward slide.

A great portion of the film depicts the ugly drama of WWII. The drama of war can never be overdone. Unfortunately, the drama of these characters is extremely overdone—I felt their silent, blank gazes into the camera lens tedious. Wright also confuses the viewer by flip flopping back and forth in time. The use of this technique once or twice in a film can add an interesting touch, but in this film, the frequency of its use becomes frustrating—and almost silly.

In the beginning of the film, the younger sister, Briony, has just finished typing a play that she has written. She then searches the house to obtain her mother's review of it. At this time, Wright uses the abrasive sound of striking typewriter keys in the background but the reason for this is lost on this reviewer. At the end of the film, Vanessa Redgrave portrays the aging, dying Briony, who has written a novel which she believes is the gift of atonement for the tragedy she caused her sister Ceclia and Robbie.

As one who usually loves period pieces, I was disappointed in this film. The saga of lives affected by false testimony was not on my mind when leaving the theater. Rather, the waste of life as the result of war was the strongest message and made the lies of a little girl seem trivial in comparison.

Rating:

 

–Reviewed by Tanya Reagor of Norristown, PA

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