10s Movie Review - Never Let Me Go

Director: Mark Romanek
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley, Charlie Rowe, Charlotte Rampling, Sally Hawkins, Domhnall Gleeson, Andrea Riseborough, Isobel-Meikl Small, Ella Purnell

Description: The lives of three friends (Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley), from their early school days into young adulthood, when the reality of the worlds they live in comes knocking. 

 
Review: “Never Let Me Go” is the film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s bestseller of the same name. Director Mark Romanek managed to surround himself with purely great talent. I believe that “Never Let Me Go” is a fantastic film, that probably not many people have seen.
Kathy, Tommy and Ruth spend their youth in Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. Unlike their peers, however, their lives are already mapped out for them. No one seems intent on telling them, but more and more things point to a predestined fate awaiting them. When they leave the protected environment of school behind, they are confronted not only with deep feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal, but also with their inevitable fate.
The three leads, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield, all play phenomenally. Mulligan, who has the central role, proves once again to be one of the greatest British acting talents. Knightley and Garfield support her perfectly and they form a great trio. The young Kathy, Tommy and Ruth are portrayed almost as impressively as their older counterparts. And also strong supporting roles by Charlotte Rampling and especially Sally Hawkins.  
Screenwriter Alex Garland chose to familiarize the viewer, who is not familiar with the book, with the fate of the children in the same gradual ways as they do during their childhood. It makes the harrowing story even more realistic and poignant. Not only is the narration calm and thorough, actually all facets of the film are made with care and passion.  
The only issue I have with the story is why more people resist the system or flee their fate? Or show their open opinion and disagree with the system, like Sally Hawkins’ character Miss Lucy. But that’s quickly forgiven, because this is such a beautiful film. The cinematography is wonderful. The use of color serves not only to create the atmosphere of alienation and timelessness, but also to distinguish the different chapters within the story. Most impressive, however, are the various shots that are so beautiful that you would want to frame them.
In addition to the cinematography, the atmospheric and emotionally charged soundtrack is also a true beauty. It comes from the hand of Rachel Portman who, seems somewhat unknown, but appears to have an impressive resume (including “The Cider House Rules” and “Chocolat”).
I read the book a long time ago, remembering I wasn’t that big of a fan. But the film is gorgeous and I would recommend it to many people.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

50 Books Challenge - # 9: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Title: Never Let Me Go
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Story: As a child, Kathy — now thirty-one years old — lived at Hailsham, a private school in the scenic English countryside where the children were sheltered from the outside world, brought up to believe that they were special and that their well-being was crucial not only for themselves but for the society they would eventually enter. Kathy had long ago put this idyllic past behind her, but when two of her Hailsham friends come back into her life, she stops resisting the pull of memory.
And so, as her friendship with Ruth is rekindled, and as the feelings that long ago fueled her adolescent crush on Tommy begin to deepen into love, Kathy recalls their years at Hailsham. She describes happy scenes of boys and girls growing up together, unperturbed--even comforted--by their isolation. But she describes other scenes as well: of discord and misunderstanding that hint at a dark secret behind Hailsham's nurturing facade. With the dawning clarity of hindsight, the three friends are compelled to face the truth about their childhood—and about their lives now.
Start: february 11th 2011
End: february 18th 2011
Comment: I was so excited to read the book, because it sounded interesting and original. I was in fact a little bit disappointed. It was very slow and it took me a while to get into it. Some parts were even kinda dull. I did like how Ishiguro described his characters and how he focussed on them and I liked the concept of the novel. I think this book could use some more emotions, dialogues and climactic happenings. The book wasn't all that surprising either and the author kept repeating himself several times. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it, because it was quite interesting. I just wasn't as enthusiastic about it as everyone else is. I can understand why people love it so much, but it just wasn't my type of book. Maybe if I give it another try in a couple of years.
Rating: 2,5/ 5