'The Assessment' Delivers a Dystopian Take on Parenthood Testing

Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander star in Fleur Fortuné's debut film, now in theaters, exploring societal privilege, authoritarianism, and emotional strain in a resource-scarce future.

• The film, directed by Fleur Fortuné in her feature debut, imagines a dystopian society where natural conception is illegal, and parenthood requires passing a government-mandated test.
• Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel play a couple subjected to a week-long evaluation by an 'assessor,' portrayed by Alicia Vikander, whose unorthodox methods disrupt their lives.
• Critics have praised the performances, particularly Vikander's unsettling portrayal of the assessor and Olsen's layered depiction of a hopeful yet questioning character.
• The movie explores themes of authoritarian control, societal privilege, resource scarcity, and the psychological toll of parenthood in a climate-ravaged world.
• Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, the film is now in theaters, receiving attention for its thought-provoking narrative and distinct visual style.

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