Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Atonement (2007)

Director: Joe Wright
Writers:  Ian McEwan, Christopher Hampton
Cast:      James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Brenda Blethyn

A 13 year old girl with writing aspirations wrongly accuses her sister's lover of raping their cousin, irrevocably changing the course of all three of their lives. Film  starts in pre second world war times and story progresses through the wold war with the sisters serving as nurses and the victim of the misunderstanding thrown from prison to the war front.

The first thirty or so minutes of the film progresses like a sleazy comedy film before taking the dark turn with the misunderstanding. It is debatable whether it was actually a misunderstanding or a willful mistake. The film from the start, through different point of view takes of the same event, gives an impression that things are not what they seem. The final convoluted plot twist might rub some people the wrong way but I liked the fact that author through one of his characters explains why he/she did so. Cinematography is excellent and the performances also. There is a five minute single tracking scene of the the Dunkirk beach with 1000 extras which will take your breath away.

It is essentially a 'Painkilli Katha' in the mould of 'Chirakodinja Kinavukal' but with very high production values and period settings. A great watch indeed.

Rating: 4/5

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