Watching, writing and control: 'Atonement'

When it comes to the film version of an admired noveI, I want to suggest that it is easy to make unreasonable demands, such as a dogged adherence to character, event and idea, when it might be more reasonable to ask: what makes an exciting adaptation? How far has this particular film made something new and stimulating from the original novel? How far does it make us reconsider that original, whose quality (and qualities) remain(s) unchanged by any number of adaptations? These thoughts are suggested by the British film version of 'Atonement' (Joe Wright, 2007) and its relation to Ian McEwan's award-winning novel.