Tomorrow, the new movie “The Giver” will be opening in theaters nationwide. There is a lot of great buzz about the film across all manner of media. The book has a strong following, the cast is stellar, and the previews are great. From Reddit to Comicon to the Hollywood trades, the movie is building up quite a head of steam. But it also has a dedicated following in a group that Hollywood traditionally has a more difficult time tapping into: conservatives.
I had the opportunity to see the film a few weeks ago, and conservatives should indeed be very excited to see this film. The production values, of course, are beyond reproach. The acting, the special effects, and the screenwriting are exceptional. I’ve never read the books, but I’m assured by those who have it is a faithful adaptation. But there is still more reason to look forward to the movie.
The citizens live in a central planned and administered “utopia.” These are tightly controlled communities, mainly devoid of emotion and normal human impulses like achievement, sacrifice, or risk. Their impulses and, indeed, their human spirit, are quashed and controlled though societal controls as well as an unspecified drug cocktail called “the injection” that each individual self-administers every morning. Memories of past human society are essentially gone, kept alive only by one person, who uses them only to help inform the societal leadership in times when memory of consequences past can be helpful. Otherwise, life is an absolute blank slate, a process of fitting each human cog into society’s machine for the purpose of sustaining the society, and at the expense of the individual.
The story has a central theme that is far too rare in big Hollywood films. It has a healthy skepticism of some of the most basic tenets of modern leftist and American liberal thought. It attacks the notion of strong central governmental control of individuals. It rightly celebrates and lauds independent thought and the traditional American value of individual freedom and personal liberty. The underlying philosophy of the movie screams America. From the right to free speech, to the value of capitalism, to the necessity of risk, it expresses that Tea Party tenet that America does best when American government does least.
There are a few quotes from the movie that really stood out, not just to me, but to my two teen daughters. One of them is so perfect it will make you wonder who said it.
This type of control over the choices people make is the hallmark of President Obama’s “my brother’s keeper” brand of liberal activist leadership. And though the quote is from the film, there’s no question it would be right at home in any of the speeches he has given over the last few years.
There is another dialog exchange, not shown in the preview, that will cause even more cheering from conservative crowds. I almost hesitate to point it out because in context, and without the hangup of politics, it may actually change a few minds on the other side of the aisle. (And keep in mind, this is a spoiler, so don’t read on if you don’t want plot points revealed.)
Jonas, the main character, is shown a video feed of his father at work. His father is inspecting two twin babies. He and the nurse determine which baby is the fittest. The less desirable twin is taken to another room. A syringe is filled with something. The baby is injected. Then the baby is disposed of. In the film, it is called “release”, and is also done to the elderly and to malcontents. Jonas, having received the wisdom of memory and escaped the drug induced utopian mindset, now understands the value of human life and the consequence of what he is seeing. There is still murder, he says, they just call it something else.
The message here should be abundantly clear to any pro-life conservative.
There has been, over the last two decades, a spate of dystopian literature aimed at young adults. Some have become very successful movie franchises. But in Walden Media’s “The Giver”, the presentation and delivery are exceptionally well-crafted to deliver the message of the film. It is a message that speaks especially to the spirit of America’s young people. And it is one that conservatives can feel not only comfortable sharing with their children, but enthusiastic about.
I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. Go see it, go support it, go talk about it, and help others to learn from it. It is worth your time and investment, because this nation and our children are worth it.