The Quiet Savagery of "Never Let Me Go"

Sometimes a film can sneak up on you and before you know it, you are left a psychologically drained mess questioning your own existence. "Never Let Me Go" is a film like that. Based on the book by Kazuo Ishiguro, the film was released in theaters last year and has silently faded away. Even though it has two Academy Award nominated actresses with Kiera Knightley and Carey Muligan, and rising star and Spiderman to be Andrew Garfield, it doesn't seem to have any heat in the awards race either. It's really a shame because the film is a well written, expertly acted, moving morality tale.

Explaining the film is tough without spoiling it, but basically the film is about three young people (mentioned above) and how they cope with the reality of their existence. What is that reality? Basically they are clones who's organs will be harvested before they're 30. Yeah, I know, it's not exactly an uplifting tale like "The Fighter" or "The King's Speech," but it definitely made me examine my own personal views regarding medical science, faith, and what it really means to be human. In other words, this is one heady ass movie.

And I know what you're saying, every movie that isn't "Piranha 3D" is heady to you TPG. But seriously, while other movies like "Inception" and "Black Swan" might blow you mind to pieces, "Never Let Me Go" will rattle your soul. This soul rattling is probably the reason that the film has pretty much already been forgotten. The questions the film presents are thought provoking but ultimately extremely uncomfortable.

How far would you go to stay healthy?

Are stem cells conscious?

Where do you stand on cloning for medical gain?

What is medical gain?

These are only a mere sampling of the questions the film presents. I encourage you to track the film down when it comes out on DVD in February. Just be ready to be floored, and you might wanna have something happy planned for after. Like what, I don't know, maybe Piranha 3D.