Atonement Film Trailer Analysis

      1.      The logo of the universal institution instantly informs the audience it’s a film with large financial backing-being a part of an America conglomerate.

 

 

 

      2.      The use of the establishing shot immediately sets the scene in wealthy rural England. This establishes the tone as the surroundings suggest a romantic possible historical drama.

 

 

 

     3.       Kiera Knightly who played one of the main characters Cecilia explained how she loved the film as there is an ‘underlying tension’ which is going to ‘explode half way through’.  To portray this uncomfortable impression, after the pivotal scene where Cecilia jumps out of the fountain, the trailer quickly cuts to headshots of the different facial expressions of the characters. This is a key convention in a drama film focussing on the character’s emotive feelings as it captures their view on the traumatic events. This is so important for the later dramatic clips in the trailer to tease the audience with the immense passion.   

 

4. The extreme close up of the letter and the emphasised diegetic sound of the type writer and is developed to create a rhythm for the next cuts. This creates a pulse and adds to the uncomfortable suspense of the trailer plot.  This heightened dramatic emphasis is cut by the sound of sliding the bar across on the type written. The movement of Kiera Knightly’s head is on the beat of this, reflecting her realisation of her sister Bryony reading the letter.

 

 

 

5. This synchronisation of the asynchronous sound and the character’s alarmed facial expression effectively increases the intense atmosphere that is needed for a drama genre and captures her classic natural beauty that is often highlighted in period specific dramas.

 

 

 

   6.   This sequence of cuts juxtaposes a passionate sex scene and a young girl. The low key lighting contrasts to the bright natural light in the previous clips so suggests and unknown danger. The audience is left in suspense as the sister gets closer and closer to the lovers which is demonstrated through the juxtaposition of cuts. Bryony moves very slowly while the lovers have ‘suggested’ sex at a fast pace. This contrast in pace for the 2 screen plays again relates back to the all-important dramatic emphasis which is the structure for the drama genre.  In this trailer clip the half-light on the young girl’s face symbolising the gap between the two sisters as it shows she shouldn’t be there. As a drama genre  this adaptation from the novel ‘Atonement’ stereotypes the vulnerability of youth. Therefore the trailer particularly portrays Bryony as naive and dangerously imaginative in a pretty white dress with bob highlighting the characteristics of young girls. 

 

 

     7.       By displaying the production company name this shows the audiences how the film is likely to be similar to other films by this company in this particular genre e.g. Pride and Prejudice.  This appeals to Working Title’s fan base as they assume it is likely to retain characteristics of other films made by the company building up the hype for the audience.

8.       The interruption of the distressing scene in the woods (pictured first) by the subtitle screen ‘A TERRIBLE CRIME’ is effective in leaving the audience in suspense and wanting to see the film as it does not specify what the crime is. Although it can be argued this trailer tells a large proportion of the story; without specifying what the events are this trailer uses the enigma code to encourage the audience to go and see the film so they can resolve the suspended plot.  

 

 

 

 

9.       The positioning of this long mid-shot of Cecilia shows she is distanced from her family. The slow-motion reflects how her relationship is pulled apart. Relationships between people are important in dramas as this is a theme in real peoples life’s which they have to deal with. This is also shown by the delicate high note range melody on the piano as it show how raw and fragile love can be but the music effectively compresses this feeling into a simple melody.

 

 

    10.     This establishing demonstrates the chaos of war. This is often a theme in dramas and in this specific trailer is followed by fast 2 second cuts the impact of war on both the soldiers and home front. The barren waste land on the beaches of Dunkirk contrast to the rich English setting reflecting how war is an abundance of turmoil and hatred with an absence of love. There is a voice over; over the top of these scenes of Cecilia saying “come back to me” this non-diegetic sound motif is repeated throughout different clips tying in the emotive aspect of the trailer. This intensifies audiences understanding of dramatic emotion that is yet to come onto the big screen. E.g.: 2.08s:

 

 

  
    11.        The title of the film is finally portrayed at the end. The monochrome colour scheme reiterates the meaning of ‘Atonement’ (show you are sorry for something bad) as the simplicity is the only way to show this emotion.  By only having the title, the name of the film is embedded into the audience's mind.