Atonement

Atonement (Joe Wright, UK, 2007) ★★★★

Like many stories, this story has a storyteller. But in this one the person is not only a narrator but further more, the creator of the entire story. This bestseller presents the immense influence on fate caused by the trivial events once again by the acclaimed British writer Ian McEwan, continues the discovery of the delicate children psychology in his earlier screenplay “The Good Son,” and reflects the destiny theory with another work “Enduring Love” mutually.

As a mistress comes from a wealthy family, Briony, who lives without any worries, actually has a high gift in literature and also the limitless imagination of a teenager. But also because of the misunderstanding of things, her imagination causes a result that makes her regret for all her life. The mutual affection of the son of the maid, Robbie, and Briony’s sister, Cecilia, and the immature admiration that Briony has for Robbie are similar to the character setting of “Sabrina,” only the sex is exactly the opposite and much more realistic.

The new star James McAvoy gave a more mature performance with this second leading role. Already trying every sort of roles, Keira Knightly still has a great and inward acting. Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai and Vanessa Redgrave who each plays Briony in 13, 18 and aged have continuously exquisite interpretations. It also symbols the meaning of passing generations of the British actor society.

Joe Wright has shown his extraordinary vision on technical levels in the last piece, and it’s even better in this one. Except the mansion and the exquisite costumes in the first half of the movie, the soldiers’ and nurses’ wear are also very elegant and quite precisely researched. The far focus shots that show the ambiguous feelings and the extremely difficult long shot on the battle field of the cinematography are very brilliant. The jumping film editing that keeps the intensity and the transition of reality and fiction is also very fluent and clear. Unlike the lightness and joyful of “Pride & Prejudice,” the endless and haunting of the score combines with every frame equally perfect.

Only finished two works by far, Joe Wright proves his talent of controlling literature adaptations with this film once more. With the screenplay by the already internationally acclaimed Christopher Hampton outcomes this piece which is very sensitive in storytelling. Except the insisting of true to the original, it also delivers the mental states of each character and the motivations of individual behaviors successfully. We all like briony, have some regretful and indescribable tiny reactions. Maybe we can only comfort ourselves with the inevitable fate. In the current of the history, what creates this kind of destiny is exactly humanity itself.