Keira Knightley to Star in Never Let Me Go
Movie Based on Booker Prize-Winning Author Kazuo Ishiguro’s Novel
Mar 26, 2009
With the success of Kazuo Ishiguro’s book-turned-into-film The Remains of the Day, it was only a matter of time before filmmakers latched on to the idea of putting his beautifully crafted pseudo-sci-fi novel Never Let Me Go on the silver screen.
Released in 1993 and directed by James Ivory, the romantic drama The Remains of the Day earned eight Academy Award nominations and established Ishiguro as an author whose work could be beautifully adapted to the cinema. The film starred John Haycraft, Christopher Reeve, Anthony Hopkins, and Emma Thompson.
About the Book Never Let Me Go
Ishiguro’s more recent book, Never Let Me Go, offers an alternate history of how things might have been in 1980s England if children were raised at exclusive boarding schools under a shroud of mystery about their heritage. The story focuses on a 31-year-old woman named Kathy as she reflects back on her childhood friends Ruth and Tommy. She also remembers the teachers they had at Hailsham, her former school, which in some respects served as her former prison.
Although the book keeps its big secret for several chapters, media reports on the film have already leaked the central shocker (which will not be revealed here). In almost poetic terms, the author uses a science fiction premise as a metaphor for life, rather than presenting a true science fiction novel, however. The science of the book is glossed over, with technical details left to the imagination of readers.
Never Let Me Go concerns humanity, rather than science, as essentially all people desperately try to reveal their souls through art, and experience meaningful loving relationships with unattainable people – all while waiting for their bodies to reach their expiration dates.
Book Details:
Ishiguro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go. Vintage International, 2005. ISBN: 1-4000-7877-6, 288 pages, Fiction, Softcover. $14.00 (U.S.)
About the Film Never Let Me Go
Keira Knightley (The Duchess) takes on the role of Ruth, along with Carey Mulligan (Pride & Prejudice) and Andrew Garfield (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus) in the central roles of Kathy and Tommy, respectively. Mark Romanek, best known for directing music videos and the feature film One Hour Photo with Robin Williams will direct.
London scribe Alex Garland (Sunshine, 28 Days Later) is slated to write the screenplay and co-produce Never Let Me Go, based on Ishiguro’s novel of the same name. Filming begins in London and Norfolk in April 2009 with a release date sometime in 2010. The movie is a production of DNA Films and Film4 with Fox Searchlight Pictures distributing in the United States.
For more information about the movie Never Let Me Go, visit Internet Movie Database.
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