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Essay On Atonement

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Adapted from Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement. In 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis (Saoirise Ronan) changes the lives of her sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and lover Robbie Tuner (James McAvoy). She accuses Robbie of a crime he didn’t commit, which has damaging consequences and guilt which affects Briony’s entire life.

Cinematography is implemented in a variety of different ways to convey Briony’s character. Even before the introduction of Briony, an overview of her bedroom and of the dollhouse, filled with model figures carefully arranged, reveals much about her personality. This is the first evidence regarding the creative yet manipulative personality of Briony. She has arranged her toys to replicate Noah’s Ark, demonstrating the side …show more content…

In the beginning of the film, 13-year-old Briony witnesses the sexual tension between her sister and Robbie; however, she does not completely comprehend what she is seeing. As a result, this leads to the arrest of Robbie, as Briony believes that what she saw was he assaulting both her sister and cousin Lola. This incident leads to the concept of perception in which lighting is utilised in a clever way to illustrate this. When Briony encounters Cecilia and Robbie in the library, the light shone on half her face contrasts against the face shadowed on the other half. This is symbolic to her perception of the situation, as she is only observing a portion of what has happened. As Briony is only aware of half of the complete situation, this causes her to misjudge the event. Similarly, when she discovers Lola being assaulted, light is utilised through her torch – when she discovers Lola, the torch blinds her momentarily, throwing her into the light and then darkness. This causes Briony to fade, emphasising the idea of how one’s sight can affect your perceptions. These events are critical, as Briony's incorrect perception of occasions is the catalyst for the whole film and the consequences that are to come. Additionally, light is used when Briony goes to Paul Marshall – the man who assaulted Lola – and Lola's wedding. Briony gazes upwards as light falls upon her from above, implying a sudden comprehension of her understanding of who assaulted Lola. Here, light depicts the understanding of the truth. Throughout the film, light is used to illustrate various ideas, and it tells its own particular story underneath the action of the main

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