Never Let Me Go

Last fall, I was eager to  see a little known British movie entitled, Never Let Me Go, but never quite found the time to do so. Lucky for me, its finally available to rent.

Based on a highly acclaimed novel I unfortunately have not yet read (and therefore can make no judgment of the adaptation), the Never Let Me Go trailer reveals a story of three characters who attend an English boarding school where they are told of the expectations of their doomed lives. The movie then follows their journey into the “real world” as adults and the tragic love triangle that is weaved throughout. (Watch the trailer at the end of this post.)

This intriguing story is inherently a sci-fi tale, told in a manner and style that rivals some of the most beautiful British period films. Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield – who portray the central characters as adults – deliver hauntingly subdued performances. And while I wish I could disclose the details of the storyline, I simply don’t want to spoil the movie for you.

What I can say is that I found it terribly heart-wrenching. The muted tone sometimes overshadows the despair these characters are dealing with. I just wanted them all to run away…and fast. But instead they willingly submit themselves to authority, only trying for one meager opportunity that could alter their destiny a tad. However, it is this understated elegance that may be the reason the creepiness of the story still lingers with me now.

Some people may find this movie slow-moving, boring and unfulfilling. While I cannot disagree that the script may have been a bit flat and the pace was certainly slow, I can say that I would easily watch it again.