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Swan Song

R Released Dec 17, 2021 1h 52m Drama Romance Sci-Fi TRAILER for List
79% Tomatometer 101 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Set in the near future, "Swan Song" is a powerful, emotional journey told through the eyes of Cameron (Mahershala Ali), a loving husband and father who is expecting his second child with his wife Poppy (Naomie Harris). When Cameron is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor (Glenn Close) 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. Written and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Benjamin Cleary, "Swan Song" explores how far we will go, and how much we're willing to sacrifice, to make a happier life for the people we love.
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Critics Consensus

Swan Song occasionally strays on the wrong side of maudlin, but Mahershala Ali's work in dual roles lends this sci-fi drama genuine heart.

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Critics Reviews

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Robert Levin Newsday Mahershala Ali crafts two clearly defined characters, allowing for the movie to ask its familiar questions about how we define our humanity in a new way. Rated: 3/4 Dec 31, 2021 Full Review Christy Lemire FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles) It raises some really intriguing ethical quandaries. Dec 24, 2021 Full Review Trace Sauveur Austin Chronicle Cameron's journey is a complicated and poignant one, though the muted aura that maintains a rigid hush over scenes keeps the viewer at something of an emotional detachment. Dec 22, 2021 Full Review M.N. Miller InSession Film A stoic, moving film about working through anticipatory grief and coming to the realization that some things are bigger than ourselves. Rated: B+ Jan 4, 2023 Full Review Mark R. Leeper Mark Leeper's Reviews Cameron (Mahershala Ali) is dying, and to save his family from grief, he agrees to being cloned with all his memories except the ones that would tell him he is a duplicate. The plot has similar ideas to FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED, and also MOON. Rated: 6/10 Sep 18, 2022 Full Review Zoë Rose Bryant Loud and Clear Reviews Swan Song is sci-fi at its most stripped down and stirring, with the masterful Mahershala Ali (in his first lead role!) rooting the drama in grounded emotional realism. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 1, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Meh - it's a mediocre, unbelievable sci-fi film that looks like it was filmed on the set of an Apple commercial. Things get a bit interesting when Cameron's clone "wakes up" - but overall the film is just one big "what if" question, posed in the most pedestrian of manners. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Mike M Ich fand den Film hervorragend, da das zentrale Thema bzw. die Fragestellung von immer wieder dezent verändertem Gesichtsfeld aus beleuchtet wird. Somit kann einem, wenn man sich darauf einlässt, in den knapp zwei Stunden nicht langweilig werden. Anders als beim Lesen von längeren Beiträgen, die unzählige grammatikalische Fehler aufweisen. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/25/24 Full Review Audience Member EINE ETHNISCH SCHWIERIGE FRAGE Cameron leidet an einer tödlichen Krankheit wo er unkontrolliert Krampfanfälle bekommt. Damit seine Familie davon nichts mitbekommt bittet er Dr. Scott um ein Duplikat. Als das Duplikat dann fertiggestellt ist und Cameron seine gesamten Erinnerungen sowie Gefühle auf ihn hochlädt kommen ihn langsam Zweifel. Ist es moralisch richtig seine Familie zu verheimlichen das er stirbt und ihnen eine Kopie vor die Nase setzt? Daher redet Cameron mit Kate, eine Patientin die sich bereits gegen ein Duplikat hat austauschen lassen. Einfach damit ihr Kind nicht ohne Mutter aufwachsen muss. Camerons Entscheidung bestimmt die Zukunft seiner Familie ohne das sie es weiss doch kann er dem Duplikat wirklich vertrauen? Dieser Film geht ca. 116 Minuten und ist ab 12 Jahren freigegeben. Wir haben hier ein Drama mit Mahershala Ali in der Hauptrolle und der beste Punkt an diesem Streifen, ist gleichzeitig seine größte Schwäche. Denn die Frage ist, gibt man seiner Familie in die Hände eines exakten Duplikates damit sie nicht den Tod betrauen müssen oder sagt man die Wahrheit und lässt Frau und Kind allein zurück? Diese Thematik, wenn man sich mal selbst hinein denkt, ist unglaublich spannend. Allerdings kann man diese Gefühle, die man damit aufmacht, nicht knapp 2h aufrecht halten. Daher ist der Plot irgendwann ermüdend, weil es immer nur um das eine Thema geht. Akwafina in einer kleinen Nebenrolle ist klasse. Was ich mich aber die ganze Zeit fragte war, wer zahlt denn ganzen Aufwand? Am Ende bleibt ein schön langsam erzählter Streifen der sich ein komplexes Thema annimmt, aber zu lange geht und daher ermüdend wirkt. Von mir bekommt der Film 7/10 Punkten. Was würdest du tun, wenn du wüsstest das du stirbst aber deine Familie müsste niemals trauern? Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/24/24 Full Review Sal D Mahershala Ali's incredible talents pull this film from beginning to end. The script is not particularly novel nor is there an emotional reveal that is glaringly obvious after the first act. Still, watching Ali is worth the watch - no actor could have done more with so little. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/04/23 Full Review Maria L I love this movie! It's insane that Mahershala Ali didn't win an Oscar for this. This is the dream role for a master actor like Mahershala. To me It's just frustrating that it didn't get all the awards it deserves. Especially so more people could find this gem of a story. Thank you Benjamin Cleary, you are an amazing director and I can't wait to see the stories you write and direct in the future. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/23/23 Full Review Adam M Absolutely floored by this film. Immaculate and moving the "beer" scene will stay with me for the rest of my life. Outstanding! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Set in the near future, "Swan Song" is a powerful, emotional journey told through the eyes of Cameron (Mahershala Ali), a loving husband and father who is expecting his second child with his wife Poppy (Naomie Harris). When Cameron is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor (Glenn Close) 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. Written and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Benjamin Cleary, "Swan Song" explores how far we will go, and how much we're willing to sacrifice, to make a happier life for the people we love.
Director
Benjamin Cleary
Producer
Mahershala Ali, Rebecca Bourke, Jonathan King, Jacob Perlin, Adam Shulman, Mimi Valdés
Screenwriter
Benjamin Cleary
Distributor
Apple TV+
Production Co
Know Wonder, Anonymous Content, Concordia Studio, Apple
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 17, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 17, 2021
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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