Atonement is a 2007 film adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel of the same name. It takes place in England in 1935 and follows 13-year-old Briony who falsely accuses her older sister's lover Robbie of a crime. This has damaging consequences and haunts Briony for the rest of her life. The film uses cinematic techniques to convey Briony's perspective and the misunderstandings that change the course of the characters' lives over many years. While the war is not the main setting, it has immense impact on the characters and their societal changes. The period aspect and performances of James McAvoy and Keira Knightley in this drama were likely appealing factors for

1. Atonement
Suitable for:
AS/A2 English Literature; Film Studies
Film details:
Cert. 15, Running time 123 mins
On the hottest day of the summer of 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis irrevocably
changes the lives of her sister Cecilia and lover Robbie. She accuses Robbie of a crime
he didn’t commit, which has damaging consequences and the guilt for which colours
Briony’s entire life. Adapted from Ian McEwan’s best-selling novel.
Establishing character
I How are the characters introduced to us at the start of the film? Think about their
actions, costumes and any dialogue.
I What is suggested about social class and about family?
I What assumptions can you make about the film from the opening few minutes?
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2. Adaptation
I In the film, what cinematic techniques does the director use to convey Briony’s
perspective to the audience?
I To what extent is it possible to match this to the techniques used in the novel?
I Do you feel that this key aspect ‘works’ in the film adaptation?
The novel hinges on a small number of major misunderstandings, with the consequences
of these played out over the course of several years.
I How effectively do you think these misunderstandings are conveyed in the film version?
Do you feel that the novel offers more narrative ambiguity than the film, or would you
say they are closely matched?
History on Screen
Even though the war is not the main setting for the novel its impact on the lives of the
characters is immense. The transition from peace to war makes possible many of the
societal changes that the characters we meet undergo.
I To what extent does the trailer emphasise the historical setting of the film?
I Do you think the period aspect of this adaptation helped the box office in any way?
Explain your ideas.
I Does the film follow any conventions of Second World War films? Could you make any
comparisons with other films in this genre or covering this period in history?
I Thinking particularly about the importance of class, respectability and deceit within the
narrative, consider what period knowledge is a prerequisite for the audience to gain a
full understanding of the film.
Atonement and Box-Office Draw
British actors James McAvoy and Kiera Knightley have both appeared in period dramas in
the past, so it could be argued that, to some extent at least, they are playing to type in this
film.
I How key would you say these two actors are to the marketing campaign?
I What do you think is the target audience for similar period dramas?
I Do you feel this film might encourage ‘breakout’ audiences due to the box-office draw
of Knightley and McAvoy?
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3. Finding atonement: the ending
I Investigate the meaning of the title: what different definitions of this word can you find?
Now consider the ending of the novel as well as the final scenes of the film, focusing on
the differences between the two at this point.
I To what extent do the film and the novel offer different definitions or treatments of the
concept of atonement?
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©Film Education 2008. Film Education is not responsible for the content of external sites.