"The Giver" is a drama, romance, and sci-fi film set in a colorless world after a catastrophe known as The Ruin. The society, led by elders, has eliminated conflict, pain, and emotions to maintain harmony. Jonas, an 18-year-old boy who sees colors others cannot, is chosen as the next Receiver of Memory, tasked with holding all past memories of humanity. During his training with the Giver, Jonas learns about emotions, colors, and the harsh realities of his community, including the true nature of "release" which is actually death by lethal injection. Disturbed by these truths and determined to change things, Jonas escapes with a baby named Gabriel to release the memories back to the people and bring back feelings and individuality to his society. Along the way, he faces challenges but is driven by his love for Fiona and the hope of a better world.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The story takes place in a community that was formed after a calamity called The Ruin.
2. The community is ruled by elders, including the Chief Elder.
3. The community is a utopia where there is no conflict, pain, suffering, emotions, freedom, individuality, or joy.
4. In this community, humans are genetically engineered and forbidden to lie.
5. The community has a system where newborns are assigned to families, and children at the age of nine are given a symbol of their developing independence and responsibility.
6. Jonas, the main character, is an 18-year-old who is about to graduate and take his assigned place in the community.
7. Jonas is chosen to be the next Receiver of Memory, a role that involves holding all the community's memories of the past.
8. The current Receiver of Memory, known as the Giver, trains Jonas and shares with him the community's history and memories.
9. Jonas learns about the concept of colors, music, and emotions through his training with the Giver.
10. The Giver shows Jonas a map of the world with a large boundary called the Boundary of Memories.
11. Jonas discovers that the community's "releasing" of people to Elsewhere is actually a euphemism for killing them through lethal injection.
12. Jonas decides to take Gabriel, a baby who is scheduled to be "released," and escape the community.
13. Jonas and Gabriel are pursued by the community's security forces, but they manage to escape and make their way to the boundary of memories.
14. Asher, Jonas's friend, is assigned to track him down and kill him, but instead helps them escape.
15. Jonas and Gabriel cross the boundary and enter a new world, where they experience the true meaning of freedom and individuality.
16. The Giver is arrested by the elders for his role in helping Jonas escape.
17. The Chief Elder assigns Asher to track down and kill Jonas, but Asher lies and says that Jonas is dead.
18. Fiona, Jonas's friend, is scheduled to be "released" but is saved when the memories are released, and she begins to understand what Jonas was talking about.
19. Jonas and Gabriel reach the snowy mountains and are making their way towards the border.
20. The Giver begs the elders to stop the "releasing" of people to Elsewhere and to release the community from its prison.
21. Jonas and Gabriel finally reach the border and pass through the force field, releasing millions of memories and saving Fiona from being "released."