What immediately piqued my interest in The Assessment wasn’t the headlining cast or the Pinterest-worthy production design photos. No, it was the film’s director, the French visual artist Fleur Fortuné. Having personally worked in the commercial and music video industry for over a decade, I’d recognize Fortuné’s visual style anywhere. She expertly blends surreal and whimsical imagery with compelling narratives, which makes for unforgettable cinematic feats. Fortuné uses her artistic strengths in The Assessment, a dystopian story about a couple’s struggle to have a child for reasons other than you’d expect.

Keep Calm and You May Get a Baby

Starring Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen, and Himesh Patel, The Assessment is a psychologically provocative minefield. Set in the near future where parenthood is strictly controlled, Mia (Olsen) and Aaryan (Patel) are ready to take their relationship to the next level. They want to have a baby. However, the reality of this dream coming true is far more laborious than it once was. In this dystopian landscape, resources are limited and the government has total control over reproduction rights. Despite being a successful couple in every sense of the word, Mia and Aaryan have to undergo a seven-day assessment to determine if they are “fit” enough to have a child.

Watch The Assessment trailer here.

It doesn’t take long before their assessor, Virginia (Vikander), arrives at the couple’s home. Without delay, she quickly begins the highly confidential and borderline inhumane process. At first glance, Virginia seems like a levelheaded, unbiased judge of character. Any nerves the couple have are momentarily put at ease. However, Virginia’s test quickly unravels into their worst psychological nightmare. Virginia begins acting like a child, roleplaying every worst-case scenario regardless of harmful intent. Mia and Aaryan’s relationship begins to crack as they–for the first time–question the very foundations of their society and whether their relationship can survive.

Stunning Production Design Lends Itself to A Swoonworthy Retro-Futuristic Aesthetic

Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel do an excellent job grounding the film in reality while simultaneously pushing against Alicia Vikander’s absurdity. Vikander has a lot to play with as Virginia, her performance reminds me of her role in the Mike Mills short film I Am Easy to Find. Vikander is theatrical and brash, at times bordering on annoyingly so. However, her role is to push Mia and Aaryan’s patience threshold. And by doing that, she successfully pushes the audience’s too.

The retro-futuristic world of The Assessment is beautiful, almost museum-like. Stunning production design by Jan Houllevigue and art design by Philippe Mayanobe bring to life a cohesive blend of fantasy and reality. Further driving the mood is the original score by Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch (previous work includes All of Us Strangers and Censor).

Takeaway

Filmmaker Fleur Fortuné crafts a darkly humorous and poignant thesis statement in The Assessment. At its core, it requires us to get introspective and determine what we’re willing to sacrifice for our heart’s desire. It’s a chilling film to watch, and even harder to shake.