I rarely buy DVD`s but these two to seemed a must as they were both filmed about written material I was very aware of.
"Control" is beautifully shot and the actors make for a stunning Joy Division. The main feeling left to me by the film is pure desperation for Ian Curtis`s illness in failing to cope with a situation that is sadly not that uncommon.
In many ways, "Atonement", although I believe it has been discussed here before, tells a similar story of mistake made in , an albeit earlier life, also shaping tragic events. I`m actually not a great fan of "Atonement", it has sent me scratching back through the book for comparison in details.

Next time, I must look at the DVD shelf that says "Uplifting Titles."!

When I read the book in prison (let alone when I saw the movie) I had a huge feeling of Deja Vu - the consequences of a false allegation.

But also; the scenes in France (mainly left out of the film but the best part of the novel) were SO similar to my Father's experiences in wartime that I got my Mum to send me in to Belmarsh my Dad's description of his escape from the prisoner of war camp and his trek to the coast and it was AMAZINGLY similar, as though McEwan had borrowed the book (which I gather he did from another writer).

I thought the opening part of the book setting the scene for the play, set up the character much better than the film did which let the viewer guess her what sort of child character we were dealing with.
It is a must see film though, but a must read book as well.
Interesting that with the dvd top twenty now replacing the singles cd chart selection in most medium sized supermarkets, the pressure seemingly leans from the music industry directly at the film makers for physical sales.

You got me thinking there Mart,so I managed to rent a copy of Control...I'll be watching it in a minute.
I'm back in the UK in 2 weeks...so a good food post may just tide me over till then...not that I'm dropping any hints of course...

Am I the only one who thinks Atonement is painfully boring? I only watched half of it.

Well, Centaur, if you'd been falsely accused of a crime and then convicted, you might be more interested!

But judging by the millions who didn't have that unfortunate experience, I think the tragic consequences of a child's lies still affects them.
Followed by the war and that stunning scene on the Dunkirk beach.

Stay with it.

JK I can understand that you

Ah, Centaur, the shag in the library caused all the trouble.

As it often does.

Sitting right on top, or underneath, the two previously mentioned films subject matter and proving that the shag in the library is always the one which drops a hefty copy from Tolsty on ones forehead, is 1995`s excellent and terrifying "Closer", which I have just watched.

Maybe slightly ahead of it`s time, maybe bang on to such a degree that the subject matter is still just about unmentionable and comedied to the point of tragedy.
Rent it or buy it, and see how "that" word and attitudes towards "those" situations have changed over time.

The historical jump between the forties, seventies and the present day, visualised by watching these three pretty realistic films evolve is absolutely incredible.

ooops, I meant 2005