Each individual develops spiritually in different ways. But in any case, if a person improves himself by tuning in to spiritual knowledge, knowing himself and the world around him, then sooner or later she manages to find harmony within herself. A real intelligent person is not at the same time able to bear the cross of responsibility and permissiveness. The harmony of the inner and outer worlds is broken, he is tormented by doubts and fears, the soul is tormented in the search for calm. The way out of this situation, the only and inevitable, is repentance and a desire to atone for sin. The theme of repentance, sin, and retribution is highly traditional for art: literature, theater, and cinema. The genre policy of works affecting this burning topic is diverse. It allows you to reflect the author’s position and presents the creators with the opportunity to fully reveal the characteristics of the heroes, demonstrate inner emotional impulses and emotional-mental state. This publication provides reviews of works of art: films and books covering this issue.
2017 Horror
The copyright project of Michael Williams, who acted as a director and screenwriter called The Atoning, went almost unnoticed. The Atonement horror film received neutral reviews. Reviewers pointed to the clear similarity of the picture with more successful examples of the genre, such as The Anabel Curse and Astral, created by eminent James Wang. True, there are no creepy dolls in the tape, but in the presence of a vaguely familiar demon that plagues a decent cell of society. The critics called the author’s achievement a form of an otherworldly essence - the demon has a surprisingly attractive and slender, clearly female figure. In reviews of the Atonement, the viewer compared the monster with the demonic dark Mystic from the X-Men epic. Of course, all the tricks of the creators are not entirely new, but they look great and frankly creepy.
Horror - “Atonement” - the reviews received cool because of the casting. According to experts, the impression is badly spoiled by the unprofessionalism of young Cannon Bosarge (the television movie "Bonnie and Clyde"), which plays a major role. Although the critics also got the role of the head of the family, Michael LaCourt, a well-known viewer on the TV series "Nashville" and the film "26 meters". His skill of reincarnation is recognized as unsophisticated, simulated. Praise was awarded only to actress Virginia Newcome, who played a mother who was familiar to the public from the Office and CSI Crime Scene.
Synopsis is not hopeless
The narration introduces the viewer to the main characters - an ordinary American family of three: parents of Vera and Ray and their son Sam. At one point, they are faced with the influence of supernatural forces that are extremely unkind. Not only are they demonized by the demonic essence, the heroes are divided, and the burden of the past does not allow them to unite against the mystical embodiment of their nightmare dreams. The personal demons of each member of the family gain strength by breaking the cell of society from the inside.
Critics, leaving comments on the horror film "Atonement," praised the original author’s idea, but expressed serious doubts that the invited actors were able to stretch the drama embedded in the plot. But the tape screamers did not cause any complaints. For Michael Williams, “Atonement” is the second directorial work after the post-apocalyptic drama OzLand and the first horror project.
Ian McEwan's novel
In 2001, British writer Ian Russell McEwan released the Atonement novel. The book received rave reviews, according to the evaluation of literary critics, an important role in the work is played by psychologism, dramatization of the narrative, the disclosure of the inner world of the characters and the postmodern game. The narrative talks about the role of the writer and the mistakes that you pay for all your life. Critics praised the writer’s “meticulous realism,” some even expressed their naive joy that “the classic romance is alive.” Enthusiastic reviews, of course, prevailed, but many reproaches were made to the writer. Reviews on the book “Atonement” by the English writer Anita Bruckner are dry, categorical and even ironic. She points to the numerous inconsistencies of the plot and the absurdity of the story.
Style change
The art criticism community could not fail to note the change in the author’s handwriting in this work. And longtime admirers of McEwan’s work in reviews of the Atonement complained that they felt cheated because they were looking forward to a creepy, exciting action, but instead got a play of light and shadow, a description of dresses and incoherent conversations of the characters. Indeed, the work is very different from the early works of the writer both in style and content, it does not contain descriptions of manifestations of cruelty, pathologies or sex. Ian McEwan made negative comments about the Atonement and didn’t take seriously the subsequent works - “On the Shore”, “Sweetened” and “Solar” - in a style similar to the “Atonement”.
Gentle film adaptation
Joe Wright's film "Atonement" reviews of film critics are positioned as a very careful adaptation of the work of the same name by Ian McEwan. According to the expert assessment of filmmakers, a novel and a film about love are only insofar as, basically, both are masterpieces about the responsibility of the author and the relationship between life and art. The main difference between Wright's film adaptation of the literary source is that Ian talked about a good writer, Wright's interpretation made her bad.
The Atonement film is compared with a cool cocktail from The English Patient, Long Engagement and Ozone's Angel. In the last movie masterpiece, the creators talked about how the writer gradually turns into the character of her own book, and Wright shows her heroine a smart lady who tells stories that are not very realistic, but beautiful and full of passions, which she doubts the veracity of.
Short storyline
In the center of the narrative of the picture is first the thirteen-year-old protagonist Brioni Tallis (actress Sauars Ronan), who is not deprived of talent and tries herself in writing plays. She notices the sympathy that arose between the servant’s son Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) and her sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley). One day, a real tragedy occurs: Lola Quincy (Juno Temple), who came to stay with her cousin, becomes a rape victim. During a spontaneous investigation, Briony points to Robbie as the culprit of what happened: her exuberant imagination paints a picture of abuse, and the girl believes in her. Young Turner is sent to prison, and then to the front of World War II.
Unlike the novel
In McEwan's novel, the narrative focuses on whether a person can atone for his guilt and whether it is easier for a writer. The writer tried to figure out what the redemption of the novelist is expressed in, because he has power over the fate of the heroes, like God. Joe Wright transformed the writer's suffering into a moralizing story. The most successful moment of the picture was recognized as a delightful denouement, debunking prejudices, giving tragedy and true ambiguity, philosophical depth to screen events. Thanks to her, the film turns out to be an ode to the piercing of love, the great power of art, which, in a sense, even defeats death.
Casting cast
Among the performers of the film “Atonement”, the excellent acting duo of Keira Knightley and James McEvoy is especially notable. Knightley managed to curb her frantic temperament, so her heroine looks very feminine, gentle and defenseless. No less good and James McEvoy, familiar to the viewer as Tumnus from the Chronicles of Narnia. The actor got the most complex image, so he needed to portray the changes in the character of his character. The British artist coped with the task brilliantly, watching his game is a real pleasure.
The image of a novice writer, who, succumbing to the imagination, destroyed her sister's happiness, dooming herself to self-flagellation for the rest of her days, turned out to be quite complicated in technical terms. The role of Brioni Tellis at different ages was played by three performers - S. Ronan, R. Garay and V. Redgrave. Each actress tried to distinguish herself favorably, their external similarity was only nominal, therefore one has to take a word for the collective image.
"Atonement" by Evgeny Sukhov
The theme of redemption is one of the most fundamental in classical Russian literature and is reflected in the works of contemporary authors. An example is Yevgeny Sukhov's book, Atonement. Reviews of the off-cycle novel are mostly positive. The story begins in the Vologda Oblast, where a fascist group of saboteurs was abandoned. The team is headed by Mikhail Averyanov, a former sergeant of the Red Army who grew up in the area. Staying in a German intelligence school, he demonstrated demonstrative devotion to the Reich and exceptional fighting qualities. But as it turned out, his efforts were just a disguise. Finding himself on the territory of the USSR, Averyanov immediately surrenders his group to SMERSH. After long trials, Mikhail was attracted to work against the Nazi-Hitler invaders. The main character is trying in every possible way to atone for his guilt before the Fatherland. However, the Soviet counterintelligence towards traitors to the Motherland has a special account - tough and merciless. Comments on Sukhov’s “Atonement” are deliberately kept silent on further developments, maintaining intrigue and prompting the reader to immediately familiarize themselves with the novel.
Quest in reality
A completely different type of pleasure is offered to the public by the Lost project. The quest in reality "Saw: Atonement" was created based on the eminent cinematic horror epic. The participants of the game are transferred to the lair of the bloodthirsty maniac, whose design was worked by professional decorators and technicians. The impression is enhanced by an entourage soundtrack, lighting effects and temperature fluctuations. The company Lost began to conquer the Moscow market, albeit recently, but has been engaged in projects of this kind for a long time. The script for the quest "Saw" was tested in other cities of the Russian Federation and opened in the capital, taking into account all the improvements. The chilling quest “Saw: Atonement” is not called reviews by participants, but they notice that it is impressive, especially for beginners. In terms of TB compliance, the project is completely safe, there is no injury to participants for the entire time of work.