Hüter der Erinnerung - The Giver (2014)

In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.

Director:

Phillip Noyce

Writers:

Michael Mitnick (screenplay), Robert B. Weide (screenplay)

Stars:

Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Bridges	...	The Giver
Meryl Streep	...	Chief Elder
Brenton Thwaites	...	Jonas
Alexander Skarsgård	...	Father
Katie Holmes	...	Mother
Odeya Rush	...	Fiona
Cameron Monaghan	...	Asher
Taylor Swift	...	Rosemary
Emma Tremblay	...	Lilly
Alexander Jillings	...	Gabriel 12 Months
James Jillings	...	Gabriel 12 Months
Jordan Nicholas Smal	...	Gabriel 3 Months
Saige Fernandes	...	Gabriel 6 Months
Renate Stuurman	...	Dinah
Vanessa Cooke	...	Elder

Storyline

After The Ruin, a colorless equalitarian society is formed without memories and everyone follows rules established by the Chief Elder and the Elders. The population uses drugs to stay happy and on the day of the graduation, the teenagers leave their childhood and are assigned to a career chosen by the Elders. Jonas lives with his parents and has two best friends, Fiona and Asher, and he feels different from his friends. He is assigned to be the Receiver of Memories and he is trained by his mentor, The Giver, who gives memories of the world before The Ruin. Jonas learns emotions such as love and fear and the concept of family. When he discovers that the baby Gabriel that he loves as a brother will be eliminated, he decides to change his society but the Chief Elder will do anything to stop him.

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Plot Keywords:

black and white segues into color | community | color | infanticide | based on young adult novel | 

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Taglines:

Search for truth. Find freedom.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a mature thematic image and some sci-fi action/violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

South Africa Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hüter der Erinnerung - The Giver

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, South Africa

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$12,305,016 (USA) (15 August 2014)

Gross:

$45,089,048 (USA) (5 December 2014)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Asis Productions, Canada Film Capital, Department of Trade and Industry of South Africa

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film, although sometimes accurate, doesn't, at any point, follow the sequence of the novel.

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Goofs

When Jonas and the Giver walk home from their first meeting they pass by some people assembling a tree. From this point on the shot is flopped (Giver is to Jonas' right and the brake lever and swing arm of the front wheel fork of the bike are on the left side). The image stays mirrored until they they separate, when Jonas asks about the one before him.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Title Card: All memories of the past were erased.
Jonas: After The Ruin we started over, creating a new society, one of true equality. Rules were the building blocks of that equality. We learned them as Newchildren. Rules like: use precise language, wear your assigned clothing, take your morning medication, obey the curfew, never lie.
Jonas: My name is Jonas. I don't have a last name. None of us did. That day, the day before graduation, I admit it, I was scared. Tomorrow we'd be assigned our jobs, our ...
[...]

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Connections

Spoofed in Saturday Night Live: Bill Hader/Hozier (2014)

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Soundtracks

Holly and the Ivy
Traditional

User Reviews

Interesting Premise

After The Ruin, a colorless equalitarian society is formed without memories and everyone follows rules established by the Chief Elder (Meryl Streep) and the Elders. The population uses drugs to stay happy and on the day of the graduation, the teenagers leave their childhood and are assigned to a career chosen by the Elders. Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) lives with his parents and has two best friends, Fiona (Odeya Rush) and Asher (Cameron Monaghan), and he feels different from his friends. He is assigned to be the Receiver of Memories and he is trained by his mentor, The Giver (Jeff Bridges), who gives memories of the world before The Ruin. Jonas learns emotions such as love and fear and the concept of family. When he discovers that the baby Gabriel that he loves as a brother will be eliminated, he decides to change his society but the Chief Elder will do anything to stop him.

"The Giver" is a film with a story with and interesting premise about a "perfect emotionless society". The execution seems to be a combination of the black and white of "Pleasantville", "Brave New World" and the lack of emotions through the use of drugs of "Equilibrium" for teens. The result is a reasonable and forgettable movie, with poor development of the characters and situation. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Doador de Memórias" ("The Memories's Donator")