Swan Song – Movie Review
105 Minutes, Rated R
Written and Directed by Benjamin Cleary
Synopsis:
Set in the near future, Cameron is a loving husband and father who is expecting his second child with his wife Poppy. When Cameron is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor to shield his family from grief.
As Cameron grapples with whether or not to alter his family’s fate, he learns more about life and love than he ever imagined.
This is kind of a tough nut to crack.
One the one hand, the “virtual immortality” trope is a trope for a reason. It can go horribly wrong.
It’s been done before. Many times, in fact.
Heck, last September, we talked about a film called Lx2048, which was very similar in concept in many ways.
Swan Song is a vastly superior film.
Why? Well, because the script treats the otherwise ridiculous idea of replacing yourself with the general reverence and solemnity such a decision would require if it were an actual option.
Plus, and this is the really important part, the performances here are just great.
Mahershala Ali pulls double duty as Cameron and “Jack,” his replacement. as Cameron, he presents that side of us all that doesn’t want to leave our loved ones, but more than that, doesn’t want them to suffer because he can’t be there.
The solution, of course, is to continue to be there, even when he’s not. Not really.
Or… really?
As Jack, he presents us with all of Cameron’s best intentions for undergoing this process: to maintain his relationship with his loved ones while shielding them from any knowledge of what happened.
In the film The Island, these new people are used solely as replacement parts. Swan Song changes that up and makes our last act merely the next act in our lives.
Heady stuff.
Is it you, if it’s not really you? What makes you, you?
The philosophical implications are all too clear, though the film never addresses them directly: is there a soul? What is the soul, if not the compilation of our memories and experiences, and the context they exist in, resulting in the emotional weight we imbue them?
The film surpasses the often-used trope here because of the strength of the cast. Mahershala Ali carries the lion’s share, and Glenn Close plays it cool as the subdued doctor, pushing the bounds of what is possible, while Adam Beach provides the conscience as the psychologist tasked with ensuring the “new” you is up to the task of being “you” in the real world. Naomie Harris as Cameron’s emotionally scarred wife, Poppy, breaks your heart as she deals with trauma outside of Cameron’s illness.
Together, they weave the threads that comprise the tapestry of Cameron/Jack’s life (lives?) into a glorious experience for the willing viewer.
For more, have a listen as we talk in-depth about writer/direct Benjamin Cleary’s Swan Song.
Swan Song premieres in select theaters and on Apple TV+ December 17.
Swan Song stars Mahershala Ali, Glenn Close, Naomie Harris, Awkwafina, and Adam Beach.
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