The Tallis House

To start off, the story takes place in the year of 1935.  It was a hot summer, just before World War II.  We are presented with most shots taking place at the Tallis household, situated in the English country side.  With many shots of the Tallis property and mansion - which is owned by Caroline Magnus, the viewers see the Tallis household up close and personal, both indoors and outdoors.  Inside the old fashioned Victorian estate, we notice it is quite dark throughout the halls, with some rooms being very bright and fresh.  Outside, we notice plenty of greenery and a particular large fountain directly across from the mansion that is excessive of windows.  With such great shots of the landscape, we grasp a sense of suffocation.  There are forests surrounding the mansion, and the Tallis' house is in the country.  Although the Tallis' live in a large, beautiful home, most of the rooms are rarely used.  Most scenes were shot outdoors, and the library was the room that was shot the most of, although it was dark so we did not see much.  Robbie Turner, the household keepers son, lived with his mother down - but still on the property - the road at the Tallis' cottage.

Here you can find detailed location of where most of the scenes were shot:
http://movie-locations.com/movies/a/Atonement.html#.UcdZ1hajLww

To read more on the history of the house, see:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/shropshire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8589000/8589150.stm

And the best costume of all time goes to...

The green dress that Cecilia Tallis, played by Keira Knightley, made headlines shortly after the release of the movie.  "How could he forget that green dress, how it clung to the curve of her hips and hampered her running and showed the beauty of her shoulders."  Considering the library sex scene if one of the most important parts of the movie and play, the costume choice was crucial.  The dress worn by Cecilia not only imprinted Robbie, but the viewers of the movie.  The famous dress - which was created from scratch by Jacqueline Durran  - was Cecilia's "latest and best piece."  As she "pulled it on she approved of the firm caress of the bias-cut".  The triple combo colour coordination - tones of lin black, green organza and green chiffon - was "specially requested by Atonement's director Joe Wright." The colour green symbolizes nature, fertility and life.  Green has many meanings, but to Atonement the colour "is used as a cleft motif", "This seems credible: the fields of France, the water engulfing Ballham tube station, the kitchen walls of the Tallis estate.  Yet it is equally important as an indication of character".  The dress that Keira wore has been voted the best dress of the century, "beating the famous dress Marilyn Monroe wore in "The Seven Year Itch" and the little black dress Audrey Hepburn wore in "Breakfast at Tiffany's".  After this dress was rated so highly, many designers globally have released emerald green dresses alike.  No surprise there.



Have you always wanted that perfect, mysterious green dress?  You are in luck!  Now is your chance to have your very own.
http://www.thecelebritydresses.com/keira-knightley-green-vintage-evening-dress-in-movie-atonement.html

For a full article about the green dress that made headlines, click here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2008/feb/05/atonementsgreendressdeserve

Fun Fact:
Along with the beautiful green dress, all of the costumes used on set were created just for Atonement.