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Evacuation Scene Atonement

Decent Essays

The evacuation sequence in ‘Atonement’ is a self-contained scene, one that does not contribute to any major plot points in the film as a whole, but instead serves the purpose of evoking a range of reactions from its audience. In the build up to this sequence, the only three characters the audience sees are the protagonist Robbie and his two friends. However, once the film progresses and the establishing shot of the Dunkirk beach introduces the sequence in question, the audience are required to witness the full scale and dramatic effect of the harrowing image of war that the scene presents. It forces the viewer to appreciate that events that, up until then, had appeared to involve just three men, in fact involved almost 50,000 soldiers. As said …show more content…

Because of the nature of the film and its tragic historical context, audiences could be less inclined to look closely at the backdrop due to it being uncomfortable or saddening to witness, but Joe Wright has deliberately forced the audience into a situation where they have no choice but to follow the action of the scene as the camera zooms into each condensed story; each soldier’s close-up shot is intended to leave a lasting impression of remorse and pity on the viewer. Personally, I feel that Wright’s abundance of zoom-in close-ups bring about the feeling that I am obliged to continue watching regardless of the sequence’s upsetting nature. This differs considerably from the intended use of the close-ups, which was simply to make it impossible for the spectator to look away, as I feel as though I wouldn’t even if I had the opportunity to. By having the camera at eye-level almost the entire time, the audience are required to feel the same hopelessness and fear and confusion that the soldiers on screen are experiencing, evoking a strong sense of sympathy from the spectator. It makes the scene feel much more immersive, and in a part of the film where the protagonist is facing quite considerable and immediate danger, it definitely raises the tension and suspense among audiences to be such a large part of that. Other camera angles in the scene have clearly been used to represent the status of different characters – one soldier who can be seen fidgeting nervously and looking blankly into space with a thousand-yard-stare is filmed at a high angle, which has the effect of making him seem vulnerable and weak. Other soldiers, grouped together on the bandstand and singing the hymn, “Dear Lord

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