Speedway

The Assessment

The Assessment
Directed byFleur Fortuné
Screenplay by
  • Dave Thomas
  • Nell Garfath-Cox
  • John Donnelly
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMagnus Nordenhof Jønck
Edited byYorgos Lamprinos
Music byEmilie Levienaise-Farrouch
Production
companies
  • augenschein Filmproduktion
  • Number 9 Films
  • Project Infinity
  • ShivHans Pictures
  • Tiki Tane Pictures
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 8, 2024 (2024-09-08) (TIFF)
  • March 21, 2025 (2025-03-21) (United States)
Running time
114 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

The Assessment is a 2024 science fiction thriller film written by Dave Thomas, Nell Garfath-Cox and John Donnelly and directed by Fleur Fortuné in her feature length debut. The film stars Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander, Himesh Patel, Minnie Driver, Indira Varma, Charlotte Ritchie, Nicholas Pinnock, Leah Harvey and Anaya Thorley. It is produced by Stephen Woolley, Elizabeth Karlsen and Grant S. Johnson with augenschein Filmproduktion and Number 9 Films.[1]

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 21, 2025, by Magnolia Pictures.

Synopsis

In the near future, prospective parents must pass an initial test in order to prove their suitability for parenthood, and then endure a seven-day live-in visit from a facilitator known as the assessor who will put them through the wringer in all kinds of imaginable and unimaginable situations where, at the end, they will either get a passing grade — or not. Mia and Aaryan are assigned an assessor named Virginia, and as they begin the uncomfortable tests, their relationship begins to crumble.[2][3]

Cast

Production

The Assessment was written by Mrs & Mr Thomas (Nell Garfath-Cox and Dave Thomas) and John Donnelly. It was directed by Fleur Fortuné in her feature length debut. It is produced by Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen with Augenschein Filmproduktion and Number 9 Films.[1]

Filming was expected to commence in Cologne, Germany in July 2023.[4] In August 2023, location shooting took place in Tenerife.[5][6][7] In February 2024, Deadline Hollywood reported that the film was in post-production.[8]

Release

The Assessment had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024.[9][10] That month, Amazon Prime Video bought the international rights outside Germany for the film.[11] The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 21, 2025.[12]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 28 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.2/10.[13]

Vikander was nominated for Best Lead Performance at the British Independent Film Awards in November 2024.[14] The film was also nominated for Best Debut Screenwriter and Jan Houllevigue for Best Production Design, winning the latter.

References

  1. ^ a b Tizard, Will (2 July 2023). "Alicia Vikander Says Her Role in Sci-Fi Thriller 'The Assessment' Is 'Pretty Wild,' and 'Scares' Her". Variety. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  2. ^ "The Assessment". TIFF. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  3. ^ Saito, Stephen (13 September 2024). "'The Assessment' Review: Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Olsen Test Each Other in a Smart, Stripped Down Sci-Fi Parable About Parenting". Variety. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  4. ^ "The Assessment". Production List. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  5. ^ "FILM TENERIFE CINEMA Arico receives Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander for a new film shoot". Tenerife Weekly. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  6. ^ Anne, Kenzie (22 August 2023). "Elizabeth Olsen Spotted on Set of 'The Assessment' in Tenerife, Spain". Maxblizz.com. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Arico receives Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander for a new film shoot". eldia.es. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  8. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (15 February 2024). "German Production & Sales Outfit Augenschein Sells Minority Stake To Erfttal Film As Company Ramps Up Slate". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  9. ^ "The Assessment". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  10. ^ Kay, Jeremy (18 June 2024). "Toronto film festival world premieres to include 'Nightbitch', Elton John doc, 'The Wild Robot'". Screen Daily. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  11. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (5 September 2024). "Amazon Takes International On Alicia Vikander & Elizabeth Olsen TIFF Sci-Fi 'The Assessment'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  12. ^ Grobar, Matt (26 February 2025). "Magnolia Pictures Acquires Sci-Fi Thriller 'The Assessment' Starring Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen & Himesh Patel". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  13. ^ "The Assessment". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 21 November 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  14. ^ Ntim, Zac (5 November 2024). "British Independent Film Awards: 'Kneecap' Leads Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 November 2024.