Swan Song (15)

Graphic designer Cameron Turner is in turmoil. A medical scan reveals "an accelerating deterioration" of his cerebral functions that means the picture postcard life he shares with wife Poppy and young son Cory will be cruelly cut short. Cameron could share the tragic diagnosis with his loved one or he could secretly work with Dr Scott at Arra Labs to create a clone "down to the molecule" implanted with his memories as a clandestine disease-free substitute while he passes away.

LondonNet Film Review
Swan Song (15)

Graphic designer Cameron Turner (Mahershala Ali) is in turmoil. A medical scan reveals “an accelerating deterioration” of his cerebral functions that means the picture postcard life he shares with wife Poppy (Naomie Harris) and young son Cory (Dax Rey) will be cruelly cut short as they await the arrival of a second child. Cameron could share the tragic diagnosis with his loved ones and propel Poppy on a downward spiral similar to the one she endured after the loss of her twin brother Andre (Nyasha Hatendi) in a motorbike accident…

Or he could secretly work with Dr Scott (Glenn Close) and her colleague Dalton (Adam Beach) at Arra Labs to create a clone “down to the molecule” implanted with his memories as a clandestine disease-free substitute while he passes away at Dr Scott’s mountain retreat. Tormented by his impending loss and his need for closure, Cameron trembles under the weight of responsibility of choosing Poppy and Cory’s fates for them as the frequency and intensity of his seizures worsen.

Set in a pristine near future, Swan Song powerfully poses a moral conundrum about the (mis)application of science to spare grief and regret. Writer-director Benjamin Cleary doesn’t tug too forcefully on our heartstrings, exploring key moments in Dalton’s life as precious memories shared between artist and clone as they prepare for the big switch. Two-time Oscar winner Ali delivers a beautifully calibrated and moving performance as a husband and father who is angry and resentful at a universe that would force him to say goodbye to the people he adores.

He catalyses molten screen chemistry with Harris and youngster Rey remains the right side of mawkishly cute. Time may be perilously short for Cameron but Cleary’s picture doesn’t rush when it comes to elegantly unloading characters’ emotions and airing bittersweet truths behind the trickling tears.

– Kim Hu