The Giver is based on the book of the same name by Lois Lowry. It revolves around young Jonas (Thwaites) who lives in an idyllic community – there is no war, no fear and no pain, but this all comes at a cost. Their world without suffering is also colourless and comes without choice, or any real differences between its inhabitants. Jonas, however, has been chosen to become the community’s Receiver of Memories, to learn from an elder about the ‘real’ world, a world full of true pain and pleasure.

Being chosen to be the Receiver of Memories brings with it a lot of pressure and consideration, as the only person with knowledge of a world long gone. To take on his new role, Jonas starts training with an old man called The Giver (Bridges). From The Giver, Jonas learns about pain, sadness, war and all the unhappy truths of the real world.

He quickly discovers that his community and life as he knows it is fake, and that his community is hiding a dark and deadly past. With stakes higher than he could have ever imagined, Jonas is faced with difficult choices for the first time in his life. He knows the truth, but everyone around him seems happy, so what role does he take?

Directed by Australia’s Noyce, The Giver is an interesting assessment of the power of knowledge and how maybe ignorance really is bliss. Just like how it’s better to just eat the ice cream than look at how many calories it has. Mmmm, delicious ignorance.