The Giver: A Summary
The Giver is a dystopian science fiction film that follows Jonas, a young man living in a seemingly perfect community where all memories of the past have been erased and emotions are suppressed. The story revolves around Jonas's journey as he becomes the new Receiver of Memory and discovers the truth about his society.
Highlight: The film explores themes of individuality, freedom, and the importance of human emotions in a controlled society.
The community in The Giver is characterized by "sameness," where differences are not allowed, and everyone must fit in. This includes the absence of color, music, dance, and strong emotions. The society is strictly controlled, with jobs assigned to individuals and even family units artificially created.
Vocabulary: Sameness - A concept in the film where uniformity and lack of diversity are enforced to maintain social order.
Jonas is selected for the most important position in the community: the Receiver of Memory. He is trained by the former Receiver, now known as the Giver, who transmits memories of the past to Jonas. These memories include both positive and negative experiences that have been erased from the community's collective consciousness.
Example: Jonas experiences color, warmth, and joy for the first time through the memories shared by the Giver.
As Jonas learns more about the past and begins to experience emotions, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with his community. He discovers that the concept of "release," which he previously thought meant leaving the community, actually refers to euthanasia.
Definition: Release - In the context of the film, a euphemism for euthanasia or killing of individuals deemed unfit for the community.
The climax of the film occurs when Jonas learns that Gabriel, a baby he has grown attached to, is scheduled to be "released" due to his inability to conform. Jonas decides to save Gabriel by escaping the community, leading to a tense pursuit as he tries to reach "Elsewhere," a world beyond the boundaries of his controlled society.
Quote: "The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared."
