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The Assessment Movie Ending Gets Explained by Director, Who Describes Final Decisions as ‘Very Important’

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In the climax of “The Assessment” film, viewers find themselves astonished by the critical choices made by the main characters, decisions that director Fleur Fortuné considers as “significant.” This thought-provoking movie, released in 2024, features Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel as Mia and Aaryan, a potential couple navigating parenthood in a not-too-distant future where natural childbirth is outlawed due to overpopulation, environmental degradation, and resource scarcity.

Society has established a process where every couple aspiring to have children must go through an evaluation before they are allowed to do so. A third party, in this case Virginia (portrayed by the former Tomb Raider actress Alicia Vikander), is assigned to live with them for a period to evaluate their suitability as parents. In the story of Mia and Aaryan, Virginia moves in with them, starting off peacefully but soon plunges their lives into turmoil, culminating in the dramatic climax of “The Assessment“.

During her stay with Mia and Aarayan, Virginia creates chaos, disrupts their relationship, develops an intimate relationship with Aarayan, and discloses that for the past five years, no newborns have been approved due to a government regulation prohibiting births.

In the movie, Virginia falsely gives the impression that she’s carrying out these actions because she believes the government will give her a new child, since her own child had passed away much earlier in the story.

The film concludes with the three principal characters in distinct locations. Plagued by remorse, Virginia decides to end her life, even though she was assigned her next evaluation task.

Aaryan remains at home with a digitally-created child following the unfortunate evaluation he shared with Mia. Instead, Mia opts out of the New World entirely, choosing to reside with her mother in the Old World – a place that has rejected the authoritarian language and rules that characterize the New World.

The Assessment Director Explains the Movie’s Ending and Its Characters’ Big Decisions

Film director Fleur Fortuné has frequently commented on various occasions following the release of her thought-provoking dystopian thriller, elucidating the intricate plot twists in its climax and the significant choices portrayed by the characters within it.

When asked about Mia, specifically Elizabeth Olsen’s character, Fortuné shared with Showland News that she perceives her character as being “free” at the end of the movie. Moreover, Fortuné emphasized that Mia’s final breath in the film is “significant,” as it mirrors the breath of trauma that initiates the storyline, transforming a feeling of suffocation into liberation.

I’m delighted you picked up on that! In my conversation with Elizabeth Olsen, I mentioned how her character has faced immense hardships and is now liberated after feeling restricted in a confined world. It was crucial for her character to take deep breaths, as it symbolizes not just freedom but also ties into themes of trauma, loss, and many other complex issues. Therefore, throughout the movie, I wanted audiences to sense that transition from near suffocation at the start to a sense of liberation by the end.

In a chat with A Shot Magazine, this new filmmaker expressed that the movie held significant value for her since it delved into a realm devoid of choice. Essentially, she felt compelled to spark discussions on the potential consequences when such freedom is stripped away. Put another way, she believed it was crucial to raise questions about the implications of losing the power of choice.

I didn’t want my personal experiences or biases to influence the film, since I had difficulties conceiving and underwent IVF for years, eventually coming to terms with the fact that I might never have children. However, having children was important to me because I wanted to care for someone other than myself. This film isn’t about what most people think is the reason for wanting kids. I believe that the freedom of choice is crucial, especially given the ongoing global struggle for women’s reproductive rights, such as access to abortion. It’s essential to raise questions without imposing my opinions on the characters or their outcomes. In fact, I don’t see any of the characters as having different endings. I also don’t want to suggest that one ending is better than another. It’s amusing how some people argue about that.

Regarding Aaryan’s finale, she playfully commented that some viewers perceive his ending as the most dismal among the main characters. This is because he finally achieves his desire (having a child), but the child is entirely synthetic, leaving him to single-handedly raise it.

It’s interesting to note that while some individuals perceive Aaryan’s conclusion as the most dismal, others find it quite the opposite. I enjoy such debates since they spark genuine conversations.

Regarding the ending of the film, Fortuné shares his perspective on Virginia. In a Reddit AMA, he suggested that Virginia prefers death over continuing to live under the burden of her world/role, and in a sense, the movie concludes with Virginia achieving a kind of “freedom,” similar to Elizabeth Olsen’s character Mia.

As a devoted fan, I’ve got some exciting news to share! Instead of a book, we’re dealing with an original screenplay here. The climax is left unresolved, a daring gamble that could mean life or death, but she yearns for freedom more than anything. It’s true, death is a risk, but survival is not always immediate – it might take a century or so, but who’s counting?

In the film, the mask comes off because she can breathe freely once again, a crucial aspect emphasized throughout the story. The act of breathing symbolizes hope and new beginnings for her character.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but echo Fortuné’s perspective on the characters’ choices. Just like Elizabeth Olsen, who portrays Mia, I find myself in agreement with where the movie concludes her journey. She bravely decides to forsake the familiar society she has known and nurtured, embarking on an adventure to the Old World in search of her mother.

In her discussion with Variety about her character in ‘Assessment’, Olsen expressed that her character initially felt forsaken, as her mother prioritized her beliefs over parenting. However, this character’s subsequent search for her mother is a manifestation of forgiveness and admiration for her mother’s courage to live life authentically, rather than being bound by societal expectations.

In simpler terms, the speaker believes that Mia feels abandoned due to her mother prioritizing her beliefs over raising her. The speaker also thinks there’s a lot of anger and resentment towards this action, but at some point, one can forgive and even admire such courageous decisions. Living life according to one’s own choices is important, and the speaker feels that Mia’s actions in the film are rooted in this philosophy.

The Assessment is now streaming on Hulu.

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2025-07-22 01:05

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