“The Giver” is an intriguing tale of a society that has chosen to ignore memories and emotions in order to suppress negative thoughts, jealousy, violence, romance and faith. The story begins “after the ruin” and we are exposed to a world without grief, color or independent thinking. Conformity is the rule and teenagers are assigned jobs based upon their skills. One young man named Jonas is chosen to be “The Receiver” of memories and is introduced to his new mentor “The Giver” who currently safeguards these experiences. When Jonas is exposed to a full range of emotions and violence of past humankind, it awakens in him a desire to break the chains of oppression by sharing these newfound feelings with everyone else.

The movie is a powerful testament to the gifts of individuality, emotion and faith. The story is told in a straightforward manner and will keep the audience’s attention throughout. Rarely do we see films these days that are sensitive to the desires of viewers who want to experience an uplifting film without senseless language or overly graphic violence. “The Giver” delivers a wholesome experience and we are pleased to award it our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal for ages 12 and over.