Review of Never Let Me Go (2010) by Briain D — 10 Dec 2011

It's always going to be difficult to adequately adapt a fantastic novel into a film, particularly when parts inevitably have to be cut out. This is the one problem in Never Let Me Go. The Hailsham days in particular move too fast to have the same effect on the viewer as they do in the book. The powerful, almost harrowing theme, is revealed too early and makes the rest of the film seem dreary and predictable.

On the plus side, however, there are many good points. The acting quality is great and there is definite chemistry between Garfield and Mulligan. The teachers and guardians like Miss Emily and Miss Lucy (another character whose role is understated) are also well played by their respective actresses and, as the consensus says, together, these actors and actresses capture the exact spirit of the characters in Ishiguro's novel.

The settings are also very effective and exactly as I would have imagined them in the book. Hailsham's almost haunting quality brings back memories of the deepest and most saddening parts of the novel.

If you have read the novel, the film won't really have the surprise effect it tries to achieve. What it will do, however, is open your eyes significantly to the tremendous lack of human dignity that Ishiguro portrays in the book. Reading about it is tough enough, but seeing the "donations" happen physically on the screen is harrowing extremely powerful. In that respect, the film does the novel great justice. If you haven't read the novel, I recommend doing so, whether before or after seeing the film. The movie is excellent and I thoroughly recommend it to everyone.

One minor thing I didn't understand was the use of Irish people as Chrissie and Rodney. How could they have picked up Irish accents while at a locked away British institution? And I find it very unlikely that the Republic of Ireland would send their citizens away to be cloned so as to promote the health of the United Kingdom!