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

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. 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.