Never Let Me Go

2010
R
1h 43m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

155K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:32

The lives of three friends, from their early school days into young adulthood, when the reality of the world they live in comes knocking.The lives of three friends, from their early school days into young adulthood, when the reality of the world they live in comes knocking.The lives of three friends, from their early school days into young adulthood, when the reality of the world they live in comes knocking.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

155K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,127

170

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 8 wins & 28 nominations

Videos12

Trailer 2:32

Never Let Me Go: Trailer #1

Trailer 2:31

Never Let Me Go

Trailer 2:31

Never Let Me Go

Clip 3:55

Alex Garland's 'Civil War' Is "Old-Fashioned Journalism"

Clip 3:30

The Rise of Carey Mulligan

Clip 1:06

"Tommy and Kathy in the Woods"

Clip 1:08

Never Let Me Go: Miss Lucy Questions The Girls

Photos150

+ 144

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
"Never Let Me Go" is Carey Mulligan's favorite novel. She was certain someone would make a film adaptation, and had hoped they could wait until she was old enough to play Kathy. She couldn't bear the idea of anyone else portraying Kathy, although she acknowledged that she thought other people would be able to do a better performance. She actively campaigned for the role.

Goofs
Tommy runs in the sand out to the wrecked boat on the beach. Soon after, all 3 friends look at the boat, but Tommy's footprints in the sand are gone.

Quotes
[last lines]
Kathy: It's been two weeks since I lost him. I've been given my notice now. My first donation is in a month's time. I come here and imagine that this is the spot where everything I've lost since my childhood has washed out. I tell myself, if that were true, and I waited long enough, then a tiny figure would appear on the horizon across the field, and gradually get larger until I'd see it was Tommy. He'd wave and maybe call. I don't let the fantasy go beyond that. I can't let it. I remind myself I was lucky to have had any time with him at all. What I'm not sure about is if our lives have been so different from the lives of the people we save. We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through, or feel we've had enough time.

Crazy credits
The Hailsham School Song can be briefly heard at the very end of the credits.

Connections
Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Knight and Day/I Am Love/The Killer Inside Me (2010)

Soundtracks
Hailsham School Song
Melody courtesy of Harrow School Enterprises, Ltd.

User reviews462

Review

Featured review

7/10

three great young stars

In 1952, medical science has found cures and by 1967, the average life span is 100 years old. Ruth, Kathy and Tommy are friends in the boarding school at Hailsham with headmistress Miss Emily (Charlotte Rampling). Miss Lucy (Sally Hawkins) is a new teacher at the peculiar school. She tells them that they are simple organ donors and is quickly fired. In 1985, they are sent to the cottages at 18. Kathy (Carey Mulligan) is in love with Tommy (Andrew Garfield) but he's with Ruth (Keira Knightley). Eventually, they donate until completion but there is a rumor for a love exception.

I actually think the opening text and the first scene with Carey Mulligan reveal too much. There is no satisfaction in guessing the reveal. It's an interesting love triangle mainly due to the stellar young British stars. The film is filled with a quiet eeriness. Director Mark Romanek keeps the tone wistful. I don't completely buy the reality of this world. These are teenagers and many are bound to rebel. The great acting keeps it interesting especially from Mulligan.