FILM RECOMMENDATION: NEVER LET ME GO
Our film recommendation by Amber Hagan comes in the wake of AI, and arising questions that come from the intersections of technological innovations and ethics.
The film "Never Let Me Go" is based on the novel by Kazou Ishiguro. It is set in an alternate history where human clones are raised in an English boarding school. It follows the lives of three friends who grew up together and navigate the complexities of love, identity and mortality as they come to understand their purpose in society. They live a life that has already been set out for them with little knowledge of the real world and how it operates. To quote one of the actors, It is a story of humanity and lost humanity and how necessary it is to be humane to fellow individuals. The film dives into themes of ethics, humanity and consequences of scientific advancement. It shows what it means to be human and the sacrifices individuals make for the greater good.
This film linked to business in a few ways including:
1.) Ethical considerations. It raises questions about the treatment of individuals as items or resources. You can link this to dignity at work and ethical business practices.
2.) Human capital. The story shows individuals being raised for a specific purpose which can link to talent management, employee development and the importance of valuing employees as more than just labour.
3.) Innovation and technology. The film is set in a world with advancements in technology having significant societal implications. This can link to the responsible use of technology in business, as well as the potential consequence of unchecked technological progress.
4.) Supply chain management. It involves the elements of supply chain management and production processes. This can link to supply chain ethics, sustainability and the importance of transparency and accountability throughout the supply chain.
This movie has received many positive reviews for how moving, profound and brilliantly executed it is. It shows the impact of conditioning through the psychological imprisonment they feel. It makes people think about the correlation between the characters and employees in a poor workplace environment that controls individuals and makes them feel like machinery rather than actual people. Taylorism can be used as an example for this as it focuses on improving productivity and efficiency whilst disregarding employee physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing.
1.) Exploring the story with the novel author:
https://youtu.be/o7Es5-nhZWo?si=5u2QdKvA_vfYPYU5
2.) Another insight to the film:
https://youtu.be/t_gRhJ_Rwhg?si=fnAnREJ4rgaVIfEH
3.) A review. It is about characters living in an environment where they accept a terrible fate. It’s about how valuable is anyone's life, if the human soul is something tangible.