The Assessment is a compelling science fiction thriller starring Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Olsen. The film explores the moral limits of regulating human life in a society where maintaining peace comes at the expense of individual liberty.
Written by Dave Thomas, Nell Garfath-Cox, and John Donnelly and directed by Fleur Fortuné in her feature-length debut, the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024. It’s being screened at multiple festivals, including the BFI London Film Festival in October 2024.
The Assessment – Movie Synopsis
Set in a near-future world devastated by climate change, the government imposes stringent restrictions on resources, including the ability to have children. Prospective parents must undergo a demanding assessment to pass the eligibility criteria, during which they must live for seven days to be evaluated by an official known as the Assessor. The Assessor tests their aptitude for parenthood by putting them through a series of intense, often unimaginable challenges. At the end of this anxious week, they will either be granted permission to have a child or denied.
In the story, we meet scientist couple Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel), for whom this assessment is particularly stressful. They live in a peaceful, isolated home where Aaryan conducts genetic research, and Mia, a botanical scientist, works in a greenhouse. Despite their stable lives, they are worried about the assessment. Over seven stressful days, Virginia (Alicia Vikander), their designated Assessor, arrives to evaluate them.
Stay tuned for more updates on the film, if you are into sci-fi films with complex themes, including concerns around societal control and individual freedom in a world shaped by climatic change. The Assessment continues to make an impact on the festival circuit!
Title: The Assessment
Genres: Science-Fiction, Mystery & Thriller
Directed by Fleur Fortuné
Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander, Himesh Patel, Minnie Driver, Indira Varma, Charlotte Ritchie, Nicholas Pinnock, Leah Harvey, Anaya Thorley.
Cinematography: Magnus Nordenhof Jønck
Release dates: September 8, 2024 (TIFF); October 9 at BFI London Film Festival
OTT/Cinemas release date: TBA
Where to watch The Assessment (2025)
