In an alternate reality, a groundbreaking medical discovery in the mid-20th century has allowed human lifespans to exceed 100 years. This seemingly miraculous breakthrough, however, comes with a dark secret: the lives of a group of people known as clones are harvested to sustain this new longevity. These clones, created for the sole purpose of organ donation, live isolated lives, unaware of the full truth about their existence until they are old enough to face their grim fates.
In 1978, young Kathy H. (Carey Mulligan), along with her close friends Tommy D. (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth C. (Keira Knightley), spends her childhood at Hailsham, an idyllic but peculiar boarding school in the English countryside. The students at Hailsham live under strict routines dictated by their “guardians” (teachers), who emphasize health and creativity. The children are encouraged to create artwork, the best pieces of which are selected for something called “The Gallery,” overseen by the enigmatic Madame. While the students are aware that their work is significant, they are given no clear explanation of its purpose. Outside of their artwork and health monitoring, the students have little contact with the outside world, their lives confined within the school’s fences.
Among the guardians, Miss Lucy stands out as more compassionate and perceptive. She struggles with the ethical implications of the students’ existence and one day shocks her class by revealing the truth: they were created to donate their organs and will not live full lives. The revelation leaves the students in silent confusion, as they are too young to fully grasp its meaning. Miss Lucy’s unorthodox approach leads to her dismissal by the headmistress, Miss Emily, who believes the students should remain ignorant of their fate until later.
Kathy begins to notice her growing affection for Tommy, a kind but often misunderstood boy prone to fits of frustration. However, Ruth, more assertive and calculating, inserts herself between Kathy and Tommy, becoming his girlfriend. Despite her feelings, Kathy remains loyal to her friends and quietly accepts the situation.
Seven years later, Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth, now young adults, are transferred to “The Cottages,” a communal living arrangement on a remote farm. This new phase of their lives offers them slightly more freedom: they are allowed to take day trips and explore the countryside. However, their lack of social skills and their awareness of their impending fates keep them largely reclusive. At the Cottages, they meet other clones from different institutions who reveal that Hailsham students were privileged compared to those from other schools. These new acquaintances speak of rumors suggesting that if two clones are truly in love, they might be granted a deferral from organ donations.
Intrigued, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy begin discussing the rumors. Tommy becomes fixated on the idea that the artwork displayed in The Gallery was meant to demonstrate the presence of a soul, a supposed requirement for obtaining a deferral. This thought troubles him deeply, as he was never particularly creative and produced little art during his time at Hailsham. The trio also wonders about the people they were cloned from, referred to as their “originals,” and search in vain for clues in magazines and books, as well as during a seaside trip. Kathy’s feelings for Tommy remain unspoken, and Ruth, sensing Kathy’s loneliness, cruelly claims that Tommy has never seen Kathy as more than a friend. Hurt by Ruth’s words and feeling disconnected from both her friends and her purpose, Kathy decides to leave the Cottages and become a carer, a role that involves supporting other clones through their donation process.
Nine years pass. Kathy works tirelessly as a carer, witnessing the slow deterioration and eventual deaths of numerous donors. Her experiences deepen her understanding of the inevitability of her own fate but also leave her emotionally isolated. She has had no contact with Ruth or Tommy since leaving the Cottages. By chance, she encounters Ruth, who has become frail after undergoing two organ donations. Despite their strained history, the two reconnect, and Ruth persuades Kathy to accompany her on a trip to find Tommy.
The three reunite and visit the seaside, revisiting a place that once held hope for them. During their trip, Ruth makes a heartfelt confession: she manipulated Kathy and Tommy’s relationship out of fear of being alone. Consumed by guilt and regret, she gives Kathy and Tommy Madame’s address, believing that they may still have a chance to apply for a deferral. Shortly after, Ruth completes her third donation and dies on the operating table.
Following Ruth’s death, Kathy and Tommy grow closer, finally allowing their feelings for each other to surface. Kathy becomes Tommy’s carer, and the two begin a romantic relationship. Tommy reveals that he has been creating new artwork, hoping to present it to Madame as evidence of his soul in an attempt to secure a deferral for himself and Kathy. Buoyed by this hope, the couple visits Madame’s home.
At Madame’s residence, they are surprised to find Miss Emily living there as well. The two women reveal the devastating truth: deferrals are a myth. The purpose of The Gallery was never to assess clones’ capacity for love but rather to prove their humanity. It was part of an effort to advocate for better treatment of clones, who were often viewed as less than human. Hailsham, which valued the individuality and dignity of its students, was ultimately shut down due to societal indifference. As Miss Emily explains, the world preferred to ignore the ethical implications of cloning in favor of the medical advancements it provided.
Shattered by the revelation, Kathy and Tommy leave Madame’s home in silence. On the journey back, Tommy’s long-suppressed anger and grief erupt in a primal scream. His frustration, reminiscent of his childhood tantrums, underscores the crushing hopelessness of their situation.
Tommy completes his fourth and final donation soon after, leaving Kathy to face the future alone. As her own donation process looms, Kathy reflects on her life and the fleeting moments of happiness she shared with Tommy and Ruth. Standing in the ruins of her childhood at Hailsham, she wonders if her life as a clone was truly so different from that of ordinary humans, who also face inevitable mortality.
The film ends on a poignant note, as Kathy contemplates her memories and quietly accepts her fate, her voice-over fading into the somber landscape.
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