Imagine a world where everything is black and white — no one lied, love was forbidden and emotions were not felt by anyone. Anyone, that is, except for The Giver.

“The Giver” is a film based on the beloved, best-selling novel by Lois Lowry about a colorless and impassive futuristic world. As bizarre as it sounds, this film depicts what the world would be like if past memories were stored only by one person in the society.

Members of this community do not see themselves as trapped or miserable because they do not know the extent to which they are missing out — they are simply accustomed to the strict way things are. That is, until one boy is given the opportunity to feel things he never knew were possible.

In this society, on an individual’s 18th birthday, The Elders of the community assign them to their futures. They are placed in jobs such as nurturer, groundskeeper or drone pilot, among many others. However, a young boy named Jonas is assigned the unique position of the Receiver of Memory.

What occurs between The Giver and The Receiver is straightforward — The Giver passes along stored memories of those who lived before the society existed to The Receiver.

Some memories are good, others are bad and painful, but all the memories cause Jonas to realize the emotions and experiences the society is missing. He then sets out on a rebellious journey to release these memories to the community.

Growing up, this was one of my favorite novels. When any book is made into a movie, I am hesitant to see the film for fear of disappointment. But I can confidently say this film exceeded my expectations and anyone who has read the novel will enjoy it. “The Giver” remains close to the novel and it even provides viewers with a more in-depth look into the world this society lives in.

It may benefit moviegoers to have background information about the story before they waltz into the theater. The film does not do a superb job at explaining why the society is the way it is and what certain terms they use mean, so having an idea of how the society works could help to better understand the film.

“The Giver” has a stellar cast, including newcomer Brenton Thwaites as Jonas, the film’s lead character. Thwaites is accompanied by Jeff Bridges as The Giver, Meryl Streep as The Chief Elder and Katie Holmes as Jonas’s mother. Casting actors who would be able to properly embody the characters from the novel is a huge task, and I feel as though each contributed to the successful representation of these notable individuals.

The Giver is an excellent film about truth, love, fear and self-discovery. Those who have experienced this classic story through the novel will be pleased by the way in which the story is brought to life right before their eyes.

Caitlin Grove