Never Let Me Go

2010's "Never Let Me Go" by Mark Romanek.

Starring Kiera Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Dohmnall Gleeson. 

(Warning: in order to have something to talk about, this review will have spoilers) Ever felt like agreeing to donate your body's organs upon your death? It's a selfless gesture that will likely do good- and certainly can't do any harm. What if society decided to volunteer you for that sole purpose instead- while you are still living? "NLMG" focuses on a fictional British society in the late 20th century that breeds individuals, houses and schools them until adulthood, and then later at random times uses their organs for other people until their compromised life is no longer possible (a process referred to as, "completion"). We watch the sheltered child characters of Knightley, Mulligan, and Garfield be taught about taking care of their health, following orders, and the importance of serving others. While being indoctrinated at the school, a love triangle develops, and it's consequences and resolutions that play out over the ensuing years ebb to a finish.

The movie is adopted from the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro by Alex Garland, who has a history of adapting interesting material (28 Days Later, Ex Machina). Undoubtedly one of the most profoundly dour films I've ever seen, I struggle with my thoughts as to if the movie was predictable, given it's proclivity for elegiac sadness from start to finish. As well, Mulligan's arc develops to a place of understanding and acceptance that is difficult to relate to, but is still deeply moving. This is not a surprise, as the 3 main cast members are amazing. However, I'm confident that the majority of people would prefer to have the choice on whether their lives extend into old age- and indeed, the movie does explain that the national health care plan causes people's average age to rise to a 100, due to the said harvesting of organs. Regardless, NLMG is an amazing allegory into free will, as well as the class system. The characters articulate their various whims, desires, frustrations, dreams, hopes, and system friendly goals- but never question if there is effectively a better way, such as resistance or reform. They are human beings lost to memory, time's onward march, and the realization that they are about to be let go.

4/5

Trailer: Click Here.