Swan Song: A metaphor on death
By: Morgan Watters
Staff-Writer/ Staff-Artist
In the 2021 film “Swan Song”, this metaphor is explored in a more secretive gesture. The film focuses on a man named Cameron, played by famous actor Mahershala Ali (also known from the award-winning film “Moonlight”), who is facing his own death from terminal illness. Cameron decides to create a last gesture that will forever be a secret: his own personal swan song. Cameron is going to replace himself without his family’s knowledge. In this futuristic world, a new technology has been invented where you can be cloned precisely as you are. Face, hair, body and memory are exactly as you are.
This story is both bizarre and beautiful. It shows a journey of one’s own imminent death, as well as the journey of the “you” that is replacing you. There is grief, there is love and there is friendship in this film.
I would highly recommend this film to any audience and personally give it an 8/10. Mahershala Ali’s performance is a 10/10, and actress Naomi Harris, who plays Cameron’s wife, Poppy, compliments his performance with her own 10/10. The story is slow-paced, yet captivating.