Being a parent is challenging, and making mistakes is part of learning. There’s no real way to know if someone is ready to raise a child until they face the test. In a not-too-distant future, a new world has emerged.
In this future, people must decide if they want to stay in the old world, ruined by climate change, or move to a new world where they can live forever and breathe clean air without oxygen masks. However, in this new world, they must give up the right to own pets and have children.
For Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel), the only way to start a family is by passing a week-long evaluation, which is a nightmare of a test. Director Fleur Fortuné, in her debut film, leads the couple through the trials of proving their parenting skills and their loyalty to each other.
What Is ‘The Assessment’ About?
“We would be really good parents,” Mia confidently tells Virginia (Alicia Vikander), their strict assessor. From the outside, Mia and Aaryan seem like the perfect couple to have a child. Aaryan works as a tech-savvy genetic researcher, and Mia is an expert in botany.
They live in a modern, spacious home, full of bright colors, where a child could easily play. Their marriage is strong, filled with love and care for each other. With everything going well, what could go wrong during their test?
Over the next few days, the couple is closely observed by Virginia, their picky evaluator. Things take a strange turn when Virginia starts acting like a child herself, throwing food at the walls and asking for piggyback rides. She becomes the type of child that would test the patience of any parent.
Determined to prove themselves, Mia and Aaryan watch every word they say and keep their tempers in check. They try to meet Virginia’s ridiculous demands, even when they seem impossible.
Alicia Vikander Shines as Both a Tough Assessor and a Mischievous Child
Like Emma Stone in Poor Things, Alicia Vikander plays a character who changes her behavior to match the age she’s pretending to be.
Since her behavior is tied to the assessment stages, it’s amazing to see Vikander shift between being a strict evaluator and a wild child. Her dedication to playing both roles is clear in every scene. Without a doubt, this is Vikander’s best performance yet.
Although Vikander is a supporting actor here, she stands out among the cast. Olsen and Patel also deserve praise for their roles as the hopeful parents.
Aaryan shows tenderness towards Virginia and is often more patient with her mood swings than Mia, who is quick to discipline but also caring. Both actors capture the complex emotions of parenthood, showing that they don’t always know the right way to handle every situation but are willing to give their best effort.
‘The Assessment’s Worldbuilding Stands Out
Beyond the performances, the film excels in creating its futuristic world. The story is set in a society divided between the old world and the new. The film does a great job of highlighting the contrast between the two worlds, drawing the viewer into this intense and sometimes uncomfortable journey.
Mia and Aaryan’s home represents the new world—it’s luxurious, decorated with bright, primary colors, resembling something out of a Pedro Almodóvar movie. It feels vibrant, warm, and ideal, whereas the old world is desolate, polluted, and a far cry from the richness of the new world.
Fortuné’s background in art design shines through in her ability to show the good and bad sides of both worlds, helping viewers understand why different characters might choose one over the other.
Fortuné’s Directorial Debut Features a Haunting Score and Clever Script
Another aspect that draws the audience in is the eerie music score by Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, who also scored All of Us Strangers and Living.
The dark, haunting sounds keep viewers hooked on the tense, nerve-wracking experience of Mia and Aaryan’s assessment. As things become more twisted, the music makes the audience feel the tension and excitement of the scenes.
While the performances and worldbuilding are outstanding, what really makes The Assessment stand out is its original storyline. Written by John Donelly, Nell Garfath Cox, and Dave Thomas, the script makes full use of the sci-fi genre to show important themes like climate change, parenthood, and class inequality.
As Mia and Aaryan try to prove they deserve to pass the test, the story raises questions about why they want to have children in the first place. It also shows whether bringing more children into the world will cause the new world to fall into the same traps as the old one.
Fortuné’s debut film is a success, but it isn’t meant for viewers looking for something light and easy to watch. The film is intense, thought-provoking, and will keep you on edge until the very last moment.
It will leave viewers amazed by the sensory and emotional experience of the film and excited to see more creative, unconventional, and disturbing films like this in the future. The Assessment premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
In The Assessment, couples must pass a grueling week-long test to earn the right to have children in a futuristic world. Mia and Aaryan face an intense evaluation by Virginia, their unpredictable assessor. With outstanding performances, haunting music, and sharp writing, the film shows themes of parenthood and societal change.
