James Mcavoy in Atonement

Atonement receives 14 Bafta nominations

James McAvoy in Atonement

Adaptation of McEwan novel is nominated in top categories

17 January 2008

The film adaptation of Atonement, based on the Ian McEwan novel shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2001, has received 14 nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards, it was announced today (17 January 2008).

Atonement, which stars James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronan and Vanessa Redgrave, has been nominated in the top categories ‘Best Film’ and ‘Best British Film’.

Keira Knightley and James McAvoy have been nominated for ‘Leading Actress’ and ‘Leading Actor’.

The film adaptation is also up for ‘Best Director’ for Joe Wright, ‘Adapted Screenplay’, ‘Music’, ‘Cinematography’, ‘Editing’, ‘Production Design’, ‘Sound’, ‘Costume Design’ and ‘Make-Up and Hair’.

Adapted for the screen by Christopher Hampton, Atonement tells the story of 13 year old Briony Tallis, who changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister’s lover of a crime he did not commit. Set in an England of class divisions, accentuated by the horrors of war, Atonement is an emotional exploration of shame, forgiveness and the difficulty of absolution.

The film is directed by Joe Wright (of Pride & Prejudice fame) and produced by co-chairmen of Working Title Films Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, and Paul Webster. Ian McEwan also acted as Executive Producer.

Actors James McAvoy and Keira Knightly are reportedly huge fans of the novel. In an interview for Empire, McAvoy describes the novel as ‘the finest thing he has ever read’ and Knightly admitting that she ‘cried for the last five pages.’

Atonement is one of 39 Booker Prize winning and shortlisted books that have been made into films or are in production. As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations, the ICA (Institute for Contemporary Arts) in London will be hosting a season of films adapted from Booker Prize winning novels.

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