Atonement poster analysis

Atonement is a multi-award winning film based on the book by Ian Mcewan.

What first drew me to the poster was the eye-catching, contrasting images of two of the main characters. The first is of Robbie, standing in front of a graveyard wearing a solemn, pained expression and a rugged army uniform, with a dark backdrop of a moody, overcast sky. The second is of Cecila, sitting in a bright field of poppies, wearing a thoughtful expression and light, floral, elegant clothing.

The contrast in lighting is the most prominent, along with the facial expressions of the

characters, creating a dramatic and eye-

catching effect.

The army uniform and graves in the first photo and the poppy field in the second photo all have connotations of war, despite the actual denotations being binary opposites.

Looking more closely at the poster one becomes aware of the themes running through the film.

This therefore suggest to the audience that the two photos and

characters are linked, which is supported by the fact that it is these

two characters that have been chosen as the main images for the poster, suggesting that they are of

importance and are the protagonists within the film.

However, between the two main images the middle strip featuring the title (written in typewriter-esque letters, linking back to and giving a hint of Robbie's letter writing at the beginning of the film, as well as being a suggestion of the time period, i.e. before using computers became the norm) also features a small image of Briony, another protagonist within the film, and the subject of one of the main themes running through it: Atonement.

The inclusion of a small image of Briony suggests to the viewer

that she has significant involvement within the film.

The tag-line "You can only imagine the truth" pulls the attention of the viewer by creating intrigue and sparking curiosity, while standing out and appearing dramatic. The use of the pronoun "you" is another effective way of grabbing attention, as it directly addresses the viewer, persuading them to see the film.

The institutional information gives the viewer information.

The names of the leading actors helps persuade the audience to see the film by creating recognition.

The writing at the bottom saying “From the director of Pride and Prejudice” also helps create recognition, meaning that people who liked the film mentioned might be more persuaded to see Atonement.