Never Let Me Go

(R, Avail. 2/1)

In 2007, "Atonement," a film with a strong pedigree and based upon a well-regarded novel, promised to be a deeply moving and emotional experience that everyone knew going in could not possibly have a happy ending. What it ended up being was a beautifully shot film that (Saorsie Ronan's brilliant performance aside) never quite clicked as it should have on the emotional level. My concern was that "Never Let Me Go" would end up being "Atonement" all over again. Thankfully that isn't the case.

"Never Let Me Go" presupposes a world in which a solution to cancer and diseases was discovered in 1952. By 1978, with the life expectancy now up to 100, one would think that the world would be a happier place. But there's an overwhelming sense of melancholy at Hailsham, an English boarding school attended by Kathy (Izzy Meikle-Small), Tommy (Charlie Rowe), and Ruth (Ella Purnell). Students are told horrifying stories about children who wandered off the school grounds. They don't fear trying to leave the school so much as they simply accept that they won't leave it. Not until they reach adulthood.

Kathy and Tommy become drawn to each other, but being 11 years old in an emotionally stifling environment makes romance difficult. Out of jealousy, Ruth comes between them, and by the time they turn 18 in 1985 and have finished their time at Hailsham, Ruth and Tommy (now Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield respectively) have been a long time couple. Kathy (Carey Mulligan) is the third wheel as they move into a house with some graduates of similar boarding schools. Tommy's heart however, still belongs to her, as much as he may deny it to himself.

Spoiler alert: If you haven't seen the trailer for this film you may want to stop reading here.

Any hope that Ruth or Kathy might have had of growing old with Tommy was taken away from them in those early days at Hailsham. It was there that they learned what their life's purpose would be. Some time, probably in their early twenties, they would begin their "donations." Their organs would be used to save the lives of others. Most wouldn't live past their third donation. The students of Hailsham are clones.

Just as they had accepted they would not leave the grounds before turning 18, they accept their early deaths. There seems to be a sense among them that this isn't the norm for most people, but they know so little about the world at large that their fates seem more a curiosity to them than a grave injustice. Still, Tommy and Kathy hear rumors of getting just a few years together by proving they're really in love, which gives them a quiet, modest hope.

By playing against the emotion, "Never Let Me Go" is all the more powerful. This subtlety is in every element of the film. One would assume that the cruel fate of these people would be highly controversial and protested by many throughout the world. Maybe it is, but we learn as much about public opinion as Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy do, which is to say almost nothing.

The cast is uniformly terrific and the direction by Mark Romanek ("One Hour Photo") is assured. He creates an atmosphere that serves the film without calling attention to itself. As Oscar bait goes, this is not a movie that's shamelessly gunning for trophies. Which is to say, it's not "Atonement." The emotional element comes together. 8.5/10.