Never Let Me Go.

Based on Kazuo Ishiguro's 2005 novel, the film Never Let Me Go had seemed promising having been declared as "the most haunting film about love and death I've ever seen" by one Daily Mail reporter. Haunting, it certainly was.
Directed by Mark Romanek (of One Hour Photo fame) the film traces the lives of three young "donors" who struggle to come to terms with love, jealousy, ageing, morality, and mortality in their very short lives. The character's lives are normal in the way that they live out human emotions and motions, just in a more intense and microcosmic manner. As a result of this, the film reminds you of the fleeting time we have on this earth and forces the audience to question their use of these precious years. You could argue that viewing Never Let Me Go will result in one of two conclusions: it could have a rather uplifting effect, or, in the most likely of cases, it could leave you utterly depressed. The film is a heavy one, filled with haunting images of trees in barren fields, a shipwreck on an empty beach, and an emaciated man screaming into darkness. Although brilliantly acted (Keira Nightley, Carey Mulligan, and Andrew Garfield are spectacular) the film does not seem to come to a natural conclusion and ends on the rather unsettling statement, posed by Mulligan as protagonist Kathy, 'maybe none of us really understands what we've lived through, or feels we've had enough time'.

Mulligan, Knightley, and Garfield explore a love triangle with a delicate and poignant approach - the question of why they accepted their fate with such subservience however, remains unanswered.

Overall, it is clear that Romanek had not intended for Never Let Me Go to be easy or comfortable viewing. The cinematography is devastatingly beautiful and the screenplay, written by Alex Garland, stays true to the novel, allowing us to believe that the harrowing events which take place in the lives of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy are possible. It is perhaps because of this believability, the very human and relatable characters, and the natural dialogue, that the film has such a profound impact.

Never Let Me Go will leave you unsettled, unnerved and uncomfortable. It will force you to question your own attitudes towards life and love; the problem is whether or not you want to answer those questions.