ATONEMENT (FILM)

'''Atonement''' is a 2007 British film directed by Joe Wright. It is adapted from Ian McEwan's novel of the same name. It stars James McAvoy and Keira Knightley in the lead roles. The film was produced by Working Title Films and will be distributed worldwide by Universal Studios, with the US release through the Focus Features division. The film was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 7 September 2007.^[2] The film will be released in North America on 7 December 2007. The film opened the 2007 Venice Film Festival, making director Joe Wright, at the age of 35, the youngest director ever to open the prestigious festival. It has already been tipped to be a big Oscar contender.

Contents

Cast and characters

Production

Locations

Casting

Differences between book and film

References

External links

Cast and characters

★ James McAvoy as Robbie Turner^[4]

★ Keira Knightley as Cecilia

★ Saoirse Ronan as Briony ''(aged 13)''

★ Romola Garai as Briony ''(aged 18)''

★ Vanessa Redgrave as Older Briony

★ Brenda Blethyn as Grace Turner

★ Harriet Walter as Emily Tallis

★ Juno Temple as Lola

★ Patrick Kennedy as Leon

★ Benedict Cumberbatch as Paul Marshall

★ Nonso Anozie as Frank Mace

★ Danny Mays as Tommy Nettle

★ Anthony Minghella as Interviewer

★ Ashly Harrison as Extra

Production

Locations

Locations for the filming included the seafront and a cinema in Redcar;^[5] Stokesay near Craven Arms;^[6] and Grimsby.^[7]
The scenes from Redcar include the seafront as a war torn Dunkirk and a scene in the local cinema on the promenade. The sections of the film set in Dunkirk (filmed in Redcar) also include one continuous, 7 minute long shot with no cuts. This war scene includes "Elegy For Dunkirk" which is track 10 on the film's soundtrack. The song is sung on the beach and the bandstand. The song was recorded by Bede College Choir and includes the hymn "Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind". The location for the Tallis estate was chosen from the pages of an old copy of ''Country Life'', according to Joe Wright.^[8]

Casting

Both Emily Watson and Kristin Scott Thomas were approached to play Emily Tallis before the role went to Harriet Walter. Abbie Cornish was considered for the role of Briony (aged 18), but backed out due to scheduling conflicts with '', though Romola Garai who won the part shot her scenes in only four days.

Differences between book and film

In the novel, Briony writes the story of ''Atonement'' as a book, with plans for it to be published upon her death; Briony knows that she will die before Lola does, even if after the true perpetrator of the crime of 1935 for which Briony blamed Robbie. She wants the story told after those who were involved and who may stop publication of the tale die. In the film, the story is told as Briony is interviewed for television.^[9]

References

1. IMDB: Cast and Crew
2. In cinemas September 7
3. In cinemas September 7
4. Cast and Crew
5. Redcar scrubs up for starring role David Hencke
6. Joe Wright: a new movie master Daily Telegraph
7. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783233/locations
8. Review: 'Atonement' and 'Se, jie' at Venice festival: Love and lust in wartime Roderick Conway Morris
9. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/08/24/bf-atonement-124.xml&DCMP=ILC-traffdrv07053100

External links

★ Official website

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★ The Times film review:''Atonement''

★ ''Atonement'' film review on european-films.net

★ Focus Features homepage

★ Keira Knightley and James McAvoy at Atonement London premiere video on youtube