The Fountain
The reversal of views in the film was a great move on Wrights part. In the novel, McEwan reveals the real scene first, and then goes to Briony looking out her window and witnessing the scene as it happens, but in the film, there's no third-person narrative; therefore, if the film was shown the same way as the novel, it would cause huge confusion to the viewers.
Showing Briony looking out her window at Cecilia and Robbie by the fountain first, helps viewers understand why Briony came to such a horrible conclusion. Not knowing at this point what truly occurs, it looks like Robbie is forcing Cecilia to undress herself in front of him. However, when the scene of what really happened is shown, viewers learn that Robbie was just stopping Cecilia from stepping on a piece of glass which was from the vase that had just broken, and that Cecilia was getting undressed and going into the fountain to collect the rest of the broken vase, not because Robbie was forcing her to do so.
Another detail that Wright added to this scene, which was not in the novel, is Robbie shouting "careful!" while Cecilia almost steps forward onto the piece of glass. Without this occurring, viewers wouldn't as easily understand why Briony thought what she thought after looking down as this scene is happening; this is the main reason of why Robbie looks like he's being forceful. In the novel, everything is being explained and therefore creating a better understanding for readers without adding the shout from Robbie.
Wright closes each of these fountain scenes with the same moment when Briony closes her window and looks directly into the camera. Re-showing this moment creates questions of what Briony is thinking and how she actually interpreted what she had just witnessed. In her eyes, you can see the innocent child transform into someone who is hurt, confused, and maybe even angry.
The Library
The library scene in the film was done very similar to the novel. Just as described in the novel, Briony was very shadowed due to the darkness; she was just a figure. Cecilia and Robbie were also shadowed, however, they were easier to see due to the lamp closer to them; they were more in the spotlight.
Unlike like fountain scene, this time Wright did not reverse the different views of this scene, which in this case worked well. The scene begins with Briony noticing something shiny on the floor, which is what drew her into the library, after she realized in was Cecilia's earring.
When Briony's view of the library occurrence is finished, the film immediately goes to Robbie arriving at the front door, which could cause a bit of confusion and questions of who Cecilia was with in the library if Robbie hasn't arrived yet. However, as the scene progresses, you see Cecilia's earring fall off, and unknowingly being stepped on my Robbie who is walking behind her through the library doors, which is when you realize this scene is what was really happening before and during the previous scene of Briony's view.
One thing Wright did change in this scene was when Cecilia told Robbie that she loves him. In the novel, Robbie was the first to say the "three simple words," but in the film, Cecilia said, "I love you" first. This change doesn't create any significant change to the story or events that occur after this scene. It just simply shows that Cecilia does in fact love Robbie, and it's already clear that Robbie feels the same way about her.
Just like the fountain scene, Wright ended these two different views of the library incident with the same moment of Briony's heart breaking for her sister, as she realizes; or rather, assumes, that her sister is being attacked by Robbie. Wright clearly had intentions on showing the hurt in Briony's eyes, and the worry, causing her to accuse Robbie of any future mishaps because of what she had already witnessed and how she interpreted each occurrence.
No comments:
Post a Comment