The film depicts a society losing touch with the organic and that which lives in a manufactured cocoon of security that is never real
Still from The Assessment
Film: The Assessment
Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander, Himesh Patel, Minnie Driver, Indira Varma, Charlotte Ritchie, Nicholas Pinnock, Leah Harvey
Director: Fleur Fortuné
Rating: 2.5/5
Runtime: 114 min
“The Assessment,” is the first feature of longtime music video director Fleur Fortuné. It’s a dystopian sci-fi drama dealing with a future world, a spartan dome like universe where couples have to seek permission, have an assessment done, if they want a child. With population having gone out of control in the old world and environmental catastrophe having ravaged the planet, a safer section with strict rules and a border dividing the old world from the new one, has been created. This appears to be a new beginning with new laws in place to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen again. A representative of the state is the one with all the power to decide without needing to explain her reasoning. The film is an intimate drama with Govt playing Big Brother watching every nook and cranny in its fiefdom.
It’s a minimalist world where married scientists Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel) live. They live a relatively comfortable life. He creates lifelike virtual pets, while she focuses on developing plant life. Mia conducts research on sustainable food while Aaryan fiddles with artificial intelligence. An Alexa-like voice caters to their every need. And yet they feel the need for a child.
Virginia (Alicia Vikander) is the state representative, an assessor who will decide their fate within the government’s strict population limits. She will move in for a week and observe everything about their lives.
Virginia looks severe and a little weird but her demeanor changes as she puts the couple through a variety of challenges to prove their capability as parents. She starts to behave like the baby they’d ultimately care for to gauge their reaction. Her demands are horrifying, and the ordeal that ensues drives a wedge between husband and wife.
She even calls for a dinner party with exes and relatives present to discuss about parenthood. That’s where sharp-tongued Minnie Driver and anxious Indira Verma come in.
The evolving connection between Mia, Virginia and Aaryan is quite twisted and confounding. Then there’s the final scene between Virginia and Mia which comes out of the blue and feels unnecessary. The ending is slightly less satisfying as the major ideas here don’t get fleshed out. The film depicts a society losing touch with the organic and that which lives in a manufactured cocoon of security that is never real.
The script from Dave Thomas, Nell Garfath Cox and John Donnelly gives us just enough details to understand how society reached this point. Though a little off-centre, it raises issues that could be a problem if climate change causes the devastation it is predicted to. The cinematography from Magnus Jønck and the production design from Jan Houellevigue produce a severity that is apt for the minimalist world that is being presented. The performances from three main leads keep the surprises coming at a steady pace. There’s no doubt that this is a film with style but it doesn’t have the subject matter to impress a larger audience.
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