Never Let Me Go (2010 film)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:38:10 PM Wikipedia source
Never Let Me Go is a 2010 British dystopian romantic drama film based on Kazuo Ishiguro's 2005 novel of the same name. The film was directed by Mark Romanek from a screenplay by Alex Garland. Never Let Me Go is set in alternative history and centres on Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy, portrayed by Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Andrew Garfield, respectively, who become entangled in a love triangle. Principal photography began in April 2009. Filming locations included Andrew Melville Hall and Forest School, Walthamstow. The film was produced by DNA Films and Film4 on a US$15 million budget. Prior to the book's publication, Garland had approached Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich about a possible film, and wrote a 96-page script. The producers initially had trouble finding an actress to play Kathy. Mulligan was cast in the role after Peter Rice, the head of the company financing the film, recommended her by text message while watching her performance in An Education. Mulligan, a fan of the book, enthusiastically accepted the role, as she had long desired to play the part. The film's message and themes were the factors that attracted Garfield to the film. Never Let Me Go premiered at the 37th annual Telluride Film Festival in September 2010, where the audience responded positively to its message. The film was also screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, and it opened the 53rd London Film Festival. The film was distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures to cinemas in the United States on 15 September 2010, where it was given a limited release. It opened on 14 January 2011 in the United Kingdom. In the United States, Never Let Me Go opened at four theatres, grossing over US$111,000 during its first weekend. The movie got off to a better start in its first weekend in the UK, earning £625,000 and taking ninth place at the box office. Never Let Me Go earned US$9.5 million at the box office and an additional US$1.89 million in DVD sales revenue. Never Let Me Go was met with generally positive reviews from film critics, with most reviewers praising its portrayals.
Infobox
Directed by
Mark Romanek
Screenplay by
Alex Garland
Based on
Never Let Me Go2005 novelby Kazuo Ishiguro
Produced by
mw- Andrew Macdonald Allon Reich
Starring
Carey Mulligan Keira Knightley Andrew Garfield Ella Purnell
Cinematography
Adam Kimmel
Edited by
Barney Pilling
Music by
Rachel Portman
Productioncompanies
DNA Films Film4
Distributed by
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release dates
3 September 2010 (2010-09-03) (Telluride Film Festival) 15 September 2010 (2010-09-15) (United States) 11 February 2011 (2011-02-11) (United Kingdom)
Running time
103 minutes
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Budget
$15 million
Box office
$9.9 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Award
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Date of ceremony
10 January 2011
Category
Most Beautiful Film
Recipients
Never Let Me Go
Result
Nominated
British Independent Film Awards
British Independent Film Awards
Award
British Independent Film Awards
Date of ceremony
5 December 2010
Category
Best British Independent Film
Recipients
Never Let Me Go
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Date of ceremony
Mark Romanek
Category
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Alex Garland
Category
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Date of ceremony
Carey Mulligan
Category
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Date of ceremony
Andrew Garfield
Category
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Date of ceremony
Keira Knightley
Category
Nominated
Detroit Film Critics Society
Detroit Film Critics Society
Award
Detroit Film Critics Society
Date of ceremony
16 December 2010
Category
Best Actress
Recipients
Carey Mulligan
Result
Nominated
Breakthrough Performance
Breakthrough Performance
Award
Breakthrough Performance
Date of ceremony
Andrew Garfield (Also for The Social Network)
Category
Nominated
Evening Standard British Film Awards
Evening Standard British Film Awards
Award
Evening Standard British Film Awards
Date of ceremony
7 February 2011
Category
Best Actor
Recipients
Andrew Garfield (Also for The Social Network)
Result
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Alex Garland
Category
Nominated
Hollywood Film Festival
Hollywood Film Festival
Award
Hollywood Film Festival
Date of ceremony
25 October 2010
Category
Hollywood Film Festival for Best Breakthrough Performance
Recipients
Andrew Garfield (Also for The Social Network)
Result
Won
Independent Spirit Awards
Independent Spirit Awards
Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Date of ceremony
26 February 2011
Category
Best Cinematography
Recipients
Adam Kimmel
Result
Nominated
London Film Critics' Circle
London Film Critics' Circle
Award
London Film Critics' Circle
Date of ceremony
10 February 2011
Category
British Actor of the Year
Recipients
Andrew Garfield
Result
Nominated
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Award
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Date of ceremony
8 January 2011
Category
Breakthrough Performance Award
Recipients
Carey Mulligan (Also for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps)
Result
Won
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Award
Saturn Awards
Date of ceremony
23 June 2011
Category
Best Science Fiction Film
Recipients
Never Let Me Go
Result
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Date of ceremony
Carey Mulligan
Category
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Date of ceremony
Andrew Garfield
Category
Won
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Date of ceremony
Keira Knightley
Category
Nominated
Best Writing
Best Writing
Award
Best Writing
Date of ceremony
Alex Garland
Category
Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society
San Diego Film Critics Society
Award
San Diego Film Critics Society
Date of ceremony
14 December 2010
Category
Best Actress
Recipients
Carey Mulligan
Result
Nominated
Best Score
Best Score
Award
Best Score
Date of ceremony
Rachel Portman
Category
Won
Women in Film and Television Awards
Women in Film and Television Awards
Award
Women in Film and Television Awards
Date of ceremony
3 December 2010
Category
Best Performance
Recipients
Carey Mulligan (Also for An Education)
Result
Won
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | 10 January 2011 | Most Beautiful Film | Never Let Me Go | Nominated |
| British Independent Film Awards | 5 December 2010 | Best British Independent Film | Never Let Me Go | Nominated |
| Best Director | Mark Romanek | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Alex Garland | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Carey Mulligan | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Andrew Garfield | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Keira Knightley | Nominated | ||
| Detroit Film Critics Society | 16 December 2010 | Best Actress | Carey Mulligan | Nominated |
| Breakthrough Performance | Andrew Garfield (Also for The Social Network) | Nominated | ||
| Evening Standard British Film Awards | 7 February 2011 | Best Actor | Andrew Garfield (Also for The Social Network) | Won |
| Best Screenplay | Alex Garland | Nominated | ||
| Hollywood Film Festival | 25 October 2010 | Hollywood Film Festival for Best Breakthrough Performance | Andrew Garfield (Also for The Social Network) | Won |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 26 February 2011 | Best Cinematography | Adam Kimmel | Nominated |
| London Film Critics' Circle | 10 February 2011 | British Actor of the Year | Andrew Garfield | Nominated |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | 8 January 2011 | Breakthrough Performance Award | Carey Mulligan (Also for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps) | Won |
| Saturn Awards | 23 June 2011 | Best Science Fiction Film | Never Let Me Go | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Carey Mulligan | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Andrew Garfield | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Keira Knightley | Nominated | ||
| Best Writing | Alex Garland | Nominated | ||
| San Diego Film Critics Society | 14 December 2010 | Best Actress | Carey Mulligan | Nominated |
| Best Score | Rachel Portman | Won | ||
| Women in Film and Television Awards | 3 December 2010 | Best Performance | Carey Mulligan (Also for An Education) | Won |
References
- "Never Let Me Go"https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=neverletmego.htm
- Forest School (website)https://www.forest.org.uk/community-outreach/facility-hire/
- "Director Mark Romanek Talks 'Never Let Me Go'"https://web.archive.org/web/20101018023228/http://www.newsinfilm.com/2010/10/08/director-mark-romanek-talks-never-let-me-go/
- MTVhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100917064841/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/09/15/andrew-garfield-never-let-me-go-interview/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-chilling-turn-for-keira-knightley-in-new-film/
- Our Hen Househttps://www.ourhenhouse.org/film-analysis-never-let-me-go/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/movies/12mcgr.html?pagewanted=all
- RopeofSilicon.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090721231502/http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/mark-romaneks-never-let-me-go-gains-four-new-names-as-filming-begins-in-the-uk
- Rachel Abramowitz 'Never Let Me Go' comes to the screen—and Carey Mulligan learns to drive Archived 21 January 2013 at ahttps://current.com/132di4c
- Movie Bloghttps://archive.today/20120703040342/http://movieblog.ugo.com/movies/mark-romanek-will-never-let-it-go
- Los Angeles Timeshttp://www.thestate.com/2010/12/02/1587667/audiences-have-embraced-maos-last.html
- The Seattle Timeshttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2013030613_ishiguro03.html
- Washington Post
- Cinema Blend
- Winnipeg Free Press
- San Jose Mercury Newshttp://www.mercurynews.com/movies-dvd/ci_16196946?nclick_check=1
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/keira-knightley-set-for-never-1118000704/
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/8182264/Keira-Knightley-nearly-retired-at-22.html
- Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6860BO20100907
- "In Praise of Carey Mulligan, Isobel Meikle-Small and the Young-to-Old Casting of "Never Let Me Go""https://web.archive.org/web/20100917102819/http://blogs.indiewire.com/spout/archives/in_praise_of_carey_mulligan_isobel_meikle-small_and_the_young-to-old_castin/
- Entertainment Weeklyhttp://popwatch.ew.com/2009/04/15/sally-hawkins-n/
- California Chronicle
- Film Journal Internationalhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100913152314/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/specialty-releases/e3iff28983151fb56b1669bea4de8893b7d
- Screen Dailyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090721231502/http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/mark-romaneks-never-let-me-go-gains-four-new-names-as-filming-begins-in-the-uk
- Screen Daily
- "University of St Andrews: Photo of the Week". 16 June 2009.
- EDP 24http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED07%20May%202009%2020:08:40:833
- A-list actress in Weston Restaurant The Weston Mercury.https://archive.today/20120912013334/http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/a_list_actress_in_weston_restaurant_1_330504
- The Toronto Sunhttp://www.torontosun.com/life/2010/08/16/15037631-wenn-story.html
- Wall Street Journalhttps://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/15/carey-mulligan-on-her-new-movie-never-let-me-go/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2010/film/awards/portman-took-simple-approach-to-never-1118028853/
- "2010 Awards"https://web.archive.org/web/20130911002326/http://www.sdfcs.org/2010-awards/
- Toronto Starhttps://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2010/09/30/howell_the_hunt_for_the_elusive_judy_bridgewater.html
- London River: why we filmed in Finsbury Park The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 July 2010.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-blog/7885464/London-River-why-we-filmed-in-Finsbury-Park.html
- "Telluride Film Festival Kicking Off: First Stop Of Hollywood Awards Season"https://deadline.com/2010/09/telluride-film-festival-kicking-off-first-stop-of-hollywood-awards-season-64692/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100909003020/http://riskybusiness.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/09/04/telluride-never-let-me-go-carey-mulligan-kazuo-ishigur/
- Peter Howell Howell Ten Great Gets for TIFF Toronto Star. Retrieved 28 July 2010.https://www.thestar.com/article/840515--howell-ten-great-gets-for-tiff
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100831163125/http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/venice-%e2%80%98no-longer-special%e2%80%99-say-critics/
- "Impressions from Fantastic Fest – Part 1"https://web.archive.org/web/20101001192611/http://www.collider.com/2010/09/28/fantastic-fest-mothers-day-let-me-in-never-let-me-go-true-legend-stone-i-saw-the-devil/
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-10884796
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/aug/06/kazuo-ishiguro-london-film-festival
- "The 23rd TIFF, "Never Let Me Go" for Competition!"https://web.archive.org/web/20110721201905/http://www.tiff-jp.net/report/daily_en.php?itemid=1470
- "'Never Let Me Go' comes to Little Theatre"http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2010/12/024.shtml
- /Filmhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100802053536/http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/05/25/mark-romanek-announces-release-date-for-never-let-me-go/
- Inside Searchlighthttps://web.archive.org/web/20100802024108/http://content.foxsearchlight.com/inside/node/4470
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/never_let_me_go_2010/
- New York Posthttps://web.archive.org/web/20100918042643/http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/carey_mulligan_gyO9uEFDRsc5gwEuV45hFK
- Los Angeles Timeshttp://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/09/never-let-me-go-oscars-news-story.html
- The Globe and Mailhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/tiff/news-and-features/who-will-be-this-years-slumdog-millionaire/article1703162/
- Vancouver Sun
- The-Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2010/NLMGO-DVD.php
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/feb/15/gnomeo-and-juliet-never-let-me-go-uk-box-office
- "United Kingdom Box Office February 18–20, 2011"https://boxofficemojo.com/intl/uk/?yr=2011&wk=7&p=.htm
- Los Angeles Timeshttp://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/10/never-let-me-go-carey-mulligan-movie.html
- "Never Let Me Go"https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/never_let_me_go_2010
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/never-let-me-go?ftag=MCD-06-10aaa1c
- Boston Globehttps://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/09/05/from_mtv_to_the_big_screen/?page=2
- Cleveland Magazinehttp://www.cleveland.com/moviebuff/index.ssf/2010/09/never_let_me_go_full_out_weepe.html
- "Toronto Review: One Sad Note: "Never Let Me Go""https://web.archive.org/web/20100918085001/http://www.indiewire.com/article/2010/09/10/toronto_review_one_sad_note_never_let_me_go
- National Posthttps://nationalpost.com/arts/tiff-mini-reviews-black-swan-and-never-let-me-go
- "In A Dystopian Britain, Teens Grope Toward A Future"https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129838461
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20121019154403/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20426215%2C00.html
- Slanthttps://slantmagazine.com/film/review/never-let-me-go/5002
- Salon.comhttp://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/andrew_ohehir/2010/09/10/never_let_me_go/index.html
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2010/sep/10/never-let-me-go-first-look
- Newsweekhttp://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/09/movie-review-never-let-me-go.html
- Huffington Posthttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/marshall-fine/huffpost-review-inever-le_b_714260.html
- The Canadian Press
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-never-let-me-go-20100915,0,1111846.story
- USA Todayhttps://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2010-09-15-neverletmego15_ST_N.htm
- The New York Times
- "2010 EDA Awards Nominees"http://awfj.org/eda-awards/2010-eda-awards-nominees/
- "The Moët British Independent Film Awards Announce Nominations and Jury for 13th Edition"https://web.archive.org/web/20101104213137/http://bifa.org.uk/news/mo%C3%ABt-british-independent-film-awards-announce-nominations-and-jury-13th-edition
- "Detroit Film Critics Society Announces the Best of 2010 Nominations"https://web.archive.org/web/20100223071756/http://detroitfilmcritics.com/Home_Page.html
- London Evening Standardhttp://www.altfg.com/blog/movie/another-year-kick-ass-london-evening-standard-nominations/
- "Garfield, Bonham Carter and Rockwell lead Hollywood Awards"https://web.archive.org/web/20101017015458/http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/entertainment/celebrity/Garfield-Bonham-Carter-and-Rockwell-lead-Hollywood-Awards_77969786
- "Nominees"https://web.archive.org/web/20110202205129/http://www.spiritawards.com/nominees
- "The Nominees for the 31st Film Awards"http://www.criticscircle.org.uk/film/?ID=162
- "Carey Mulligan to Receive the Breakthrough Performance Award at 22nd Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala"https://web.archive.org/web/20110930061845/http://www.psfilmfest.org/news/detail.aspx?NID=274&year=2010
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2011/film/awards/inception-tops-saturn-awards-noms-1118032761/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2010/film/awards/women-in-film-and-television-awards-honor-brits-1118028344/