Swan Song

Directed by Benjamin Cleary

★★★½

Glenn Close in “Swan Song,” premiering globally on Apple TV+ on December 17, 2021.

Though one may cast side-eye to Apple, the distributor behind Benjamin Cleary’s Swan Song, for the themes the movie explores about the advancement of technology in the not too distant future, the film winds up being an unexpectedly resonant character study.

In what feels like a mere stone’s throw into the future, Swan Song follows Mahershala Ali’s Cameron Turner as he grapples with the realization that he is not able to overcome a terminal illness. When presented with an alternative science that basically can clone him with an exact precision, Cameron has to decide whether he should tell his wife and son that he is dying, or replace himself with a molecular copy, so that they don’t have to deal with the grief.

In what could have been something that leans more towards a 1984-esque storyline or become an overwrought melodrama, the film maintains a tender and earnest depiction of moral dilemma, that just happens to take place in a futuristic landscape. While I think this may be a turn off for some critics, I found it to be genuinely moving and thought provoking, if a little bleak.

Ali is a force. Always. However, this may be my favorite of his roles. There is a plangent power behind his eyes, constantly perusing his past actions and mistakes as if he were currently making them. His chemistry with Naomi Harris is off the charts, they have deep connection and at times it feels like we're eavesdropping into their more private moments. Glenn Close also appears as a doctor helping Cameron make his decision. Her character is at times more apathetic and reserved, but Close can’t help to bring her signature bravada to the role. Awkwafina also appears in a small but extremely impactful role as a young women going through the same experiences as Cameron.

Swan Song is the type of morality tale that sticks with you, long after the credits roll. While it may not be everyone’s cup of futuristic tea, I found it incredibly beautiful and poignant, if not one of the better films of 2021.