The word atonement may be broken down into its roots: at - one - ment. The protagonist Alyssa Manning is in search being at one with a self that has split off at its core following a traumatic experience in which she was kidnapped. Now, as an adult, she must confront her demons when her own daughter Emma is kidnapped.
There was a quiet intensity to Jessica Morris' interpretation of Alyssa and an understated set of emotional choices for the character. It was also remarkable that there was a degree of empathy evoked in the character of the kidnapper Miles Simon. By the end of this ordeal, somebody needed to give Miles a great, big hug!
As far-fetched as the circumstances were surrounding the kidnapping of young Emma, the film moved along at a brisk pace in large part due to the intriguing characters, including Alyssa's cop friend Grace, her boyfriend Grant, and her editor Susan.
But it was primarily Alyssa's stalwart attempt to come to terms with her past that defined the major action of the film. In this regard, the filmmakers were wise to avoid extensive flashbacks and focus on the development of a strong central character, one who eventually becomes at one with her turbulent past.
There was a quiet intensity to Jessica Morris' interpretation of Alyssa and an understated set of emotional choices for the character. It was also remarkable that there was a degree of empathy evoked in the character of the kidnapper Miles Simon. By the end of this ordeal, somebody needed to give Miles a great, big hug!
As far-fetched as the circumstances were surrounding the kidnapping of young Emma, the film moved along at a brisk pace in large part due to the intriguing characters, including Alyssa's cop friend Grace, her boyfriend Grant, and her editor Susan.
But it was primarily Alyssa's stalwart attempt to come to terms with her past that defined the major action of the film. In this regard, the filmmakers were wise to avoid extensive flashbacks and focus on the development of a strong central character, one who eventually becomes at one with her turbulent past.