The Giver (2014)
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A young boy must navigate a world where emotions and memories have been systematically erased by society.
The story
In a society reorganized after a calamity called 'the Ruin,' emotions and memories are suppressed through medication and genetic engineering. All historical memories are held by a single individual known as the Receiver of Memory to protect the community. Jonas, a sixteen-year-old boy, is selected to become the next Receiver. During his training with the Giver, he begins to experience the forbidden emotions of joy, pain, and love. He also discovers that the community's peaceful existence is built on a foundation of deception, including the truth about 'Release' and the loss of color and individuality.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In a community where emotions are suppressed and memories are held by a single 'Receiver,' 16-year-old Jonas is chosen as the successor to the Giver. As he receives memories of the past—including color, pain, and love—he realizes the horrific truth behind the community's practices, specifically that 'Release' is actually euthanasia. After discovering his father 'Released' a twin and learning of the previous Receiver's tragic fate, Jonas decides he must return memories to the people. He and the Giver plan for Jonas to escape to 'Elsewhere' to trigger a release of memories and color. Jonas flees with a baby named Gabriel, whom he rescued from being 'Released.' During his escape, he encounters his friend Asher, who eventually sets them free after a change of heart. Jonas eventually reaches a snowy area, finds a sled from his memories, and crosses the border into Elsewhere. His escape succeeds in freeing the community's memories and saving Fiona, who was condemned to be Released for helping him. The film ends with Jonas and Gabriel reaching a house where people are singing Christmas carols.
- First release year
- 2014
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Phillip Noyce
- Writers
- Michael Mitnick · screenplay; Robert B. Weide · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jeff Bridges · The Giver; Meryl Streep; Brenton Thwaites; Alexander Skarsgård; Katie Holmes; Taylor Swift; Cameron Monaghan; Odeya Rush; Emma Tremblay
- Genres
- dystopian drama; science fiction
- Themes
- memory; emotion; deception; freedom
- Tone and mood
- dystopian; serious
- Premise and plot tags
- dystopian; science fiction; memory
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1993 young adult novel by Lois Lowry
- Reception
- The film received mixed or average reviews from critics and a B+ grade from audiences.
- Awards and nominations
- People's Choice Award · Favorite Dramatic Movie · nomination
- Production trivia
- Jeff Bridges initially wanted to film the movie in the mid-1990s.; The rights were held by Warner Bros. in 2007 before being bought by The Weinstein Company and Walden Media.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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