[FILM]
SWAN SONG
Seeing double: Mahershala Ali.
★★★★
OUT NOW (CINEMAS/APPLE TV+) CERT. TBC/112 MINS
DIRECTOR Benjamin Cleary
CAST Mahershala Ali, Glenn Close, Naomie Harris
PLOT In the near future, graphic designer Cameron (Ali) is given a terminal diagnosis and, wishing to save his wife and young son from the heartache of his death, has himself cloned by pioneering scientist Dr Scott (Close). Forced to spend a week with his identical clone, Cameron finds he must confront his own deeply held secrets and fears.
CONTEMPLATING BIG QUESTIONS of mortality, identity and loyalty, Irish director Benjamin Cleary’s feature debut has sensitivity and style to match its sweeping narrative ambition. Featuring a superb dual performance by Mahershala Ali, Swan Song effectively balances science-fiction sentiments and distinctly human sentimentality to deliver an engaging study of what it truly means to be flesh and blood in a near-future world where those things can be synthesised to seamless perfection.