Film Review: The Assessment
by Pat Frickey

Fleur Fortuné, Germany, UK, USA 2024

Imagine a dystopian future where the old world has been ravaged by an unnamed environmental catastrophe becoming nearly uninhabitable. Now imagine you are one of the few elite, handpicked citizens chosen by an omnipresent government to live in a remote corner of Earth in the New World in a stunning home in a climate-controlled, luxury dome. You and your equally attractive mate get the added bonus of being delivered “vitamins” daily to dramatically stop the aging process. Both of you have highly successful research careers. Life is perfect, except for one thing…both of you have a nagging, incessant longing for a baby. In a society where people live almost forever, it is the government who has the final say who has the privilege of having a child.

Aaryan (Himesh Patel) and Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) are an attractive, young couple, impeccably dressed in natural-toned linens and turtlenecks, living in an ultra-minimalistic, sterile dream home. Aaryan creates virtual holographic pets in a pitch-black back room to fill the void left by the near extinction of domestic animals. He can’t quite get the feel of the skin right, but he is almost there. Mia is an accomplished botanist and cultivates plants in her massive greenhouse, synthesizing new organic energy sources for food. They dutifully apply to the government to have permission to have a baby, knowing full well that a random state agent will put them through a grueling seven-day assessment.

Virginia (Alicia Vikander), the random state agent arrives on their doorstep. Efficient, dressed primly in a navy-blue suit, white turtleneck, sensible black flats, and hair in a severe bun, she has perfected the nanny look. Virginia’s icy demeanor undermines Aaryan and Mia’s confidence. She refuses to give them criteria for the assessment. She explains she will stay with them for seven days and she alone will determine their suitability to have a child. There will be no chance to appeal her decision.

The seven days turn into absolute hell for Mia and Aaryan. Virginia first requisitions their marital bed for herself and insists on watching them make love in the guest room. The couple is too frightened to object. Every day they are presented with a new challenge, like constructing a complex playhouse, or preparing a meal for a spontaneous dinner party with guests they would never have dreamed of inviting. The most disturbing challenge is watching Virginia, beginning on the second day, morph back and forth between a toddler and a woman. The toddler has food-throwing-tantrums and is fixated on “Daddy.” When Mia is sent off on a sham mission to visit her sister in hospital, Virginia takes this Daddy fixation to the next level. Aaryan has agreed to everything so far, why not submit to Virginia now?

Director Fleur Fortuné, who comes from a music video background, has created a visually stunning movie. Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander, and Himesh Patel brilliantly embody their roles in this apocalyptic New World. A sterile world where a virtual holographic baby may ultimately be the best chance of ever having child.