James Mcavoy in Atonement

Atonement wins ‘Best Film’ at Baftas

James McAvoy in Atonement

Film adaptation picks up coveted award

11 February 2008

The film adaptation of Atonement, based on the Ian McEwan novel shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2001 has won the prestigious ‘Best Film’ award for the Orange British Academy Film Awards, it was announced today (10 February 2008).

Atonement was nominated in 14 categories but only picked up one other award for production design.

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, who missed out on the Bafta awards for Leading Actor and Leading Actress, 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 also nominated for seven nominations at the Oscars this year for best picture, best supporting actress, art direction, cinematography, costume design, music and adapted screenplay

The Man Booker Prize Fiction at its finest