A love triangle develops between three friends who came of age at a mysterious, secluded boarding school and are destined to lead brief lives.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1334260/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
*This review contains big plot spoilers*
The film follows Kathy, Tommy and Ruth, three friends who live and are educated in a secluded school, destined to live lives that are important to the local community, at the expense of their own lives. They are human clones who will grow up to be used for organ donation until they die. Kathy finds meaning in her life as her love for Tommy grows but when he gets into a relationship with her best friend Ruth, emotions run high and they question the path chosen for them.
I read the book a few years ago and thought it was a decent story but this film adaptation is much better. The concept of cloning humans for spare parts might seem like a scary ass science fiction story set in a space environment but in this film it is set in the ordinary, peaceful English countryside that many of us live or take holidays in. It is a non threatening environment for such a horrible thing to be happening which makes it somewhat creepy and sad. Can you imagine if this is going on near where you live? And if Dolly the sheep is anything to go by, then this film might not be far off the mark. That is pretty scary to me. Yes there are benefits to millions if more organs become available but harvesting humans like this is a bit grim.
I love Kathy's character. She is such a nice girl and we can all relate to watching her heart being broken by Tommy and Ruth's relationship, especially when you know that Ruth only wanted Tommy because she was jealous of his connection with Kathy. Ruth can be pretty cruel to the person she is supposed to be friends with and you really want Tommy to stop wasting his life with her and go to Kathy. Carey Mulligan was excellent as Kathy and I don't think anyone could've taken the part better. Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley both do a good job as well.
I'm a blood and gore kind of girl so films that have such a big emotional romance theme like Titanic, leave me totally cold. But this film was so well acted and directed that it was heartbreaking. I did shed some tears at various points in the film. It gets you thinking about cloning and you do get swept up in the drama of the story. Don't expect all out action because there is none, but if you like a character based drama then give this a try.
