From the pages to the screen : Atonement
‘Atonement’ (Novel)
Knopf Books, 2001
384 pages
It was just one moment – one lie. But as a result, two people’s lives were destroyed forever. And the culprit is forced to carry around the guilt of this one instant for the rest of his or her life. Ian McEwan weaves a tale out of this tragedy in his eighth novel ‘Atonement.’
When Briony Tallis, a curious and dramatic 13-year-old, witnesses a secret moment of intimacy between her older sister Cecilia and their house servant’s son Robbie Turner, a fit of jealously forces her to make false and damaging accusations that haunt all of them for the rest of their lives.
The book is split into four parts and takes its readers through the lives of each of these characters and the repercussions of Briony’s actions. The division of the book in this way is a bit confusing at times, but McEwan brings the reader back by masterfully detailing scenes of World War II, France and its emotional victims.
The plot of the book is slow-going in the beginning, but once the action picks up, there is no stopping until the last page. ‘Atonement’ leaves readers with a timeless story that makes the reader yearn for a love as strong and enduring as that of Robbie and Cecilia.
‘Atonement’ (Film)
Released: December 2007
Director: Joe Wright
Length: 130 minutes
The film version of ‘Atonement’ remains an accurate account of the tragic tale of lovers Cecilia and Robbie. The characters and setting were all appropriate for the World War II era setting. Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, who play Cecilia and Robbie respectively, convey the love and distress of their situation beautifully.
The time restraints of a Hollywood film prevented the story from being played out in the detail a novel allows. Therefore, it made it difficult for those who had not read McEwan’s bestseller to follow the plot. Joe Wright, the movie’s director, also chose to end the film differently than McEwan’s novel, yet it worked with the movie’s tone and the viewer’s comprehension. The movie is as accurate to the novel as possible and deserves the seven Academy Award nominations it earned last week.
The Verdict: ‘Atonement’ the novel, with its detailed description and heartbreaking emotion, was a better take on the Romeo-and-Juliet-like tragedy of Robbie and Cecilia. The movie was well filmed and captured the essence of their love, yet McEwan’s prose, the novel’s length and subsequent descriptions created a love story not soon to be forgotten.
