LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, a well-received novel written by Rumaan Alam and published in 2020, is now a feature film on Netflix. Featuring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la Herrold and Mahershala Ali, this is a film, an experience not to be missed. Amanda and Clay, (Roberts and Hawke) have rented a stark but architecturally beautiful home on Long Island to escape Brooklyn and the frenetic experience of city life. Of course it’s just for one weekend, their bodies and minds eager for relaxation. But within hours, while sunbathing on the beach, a human being’s reliance on permanence, normalcy is already being tested. Though they can see a large ocean vehicle heading toward the beach, the family continues to sunbathe, convinced the vessel will turn as it should…but it does not, causing everyone to grab their things and run, not even looking back, the out-of-countrol boat crashing onto the shore, creating small mountains of sand. An omen, a beginning. Yes.
But when back in the silent perfect and very white house, the beach experience is forgotten. Here they are, ensconced in this beautiful place. The children, a boy and a girl, swim in the pool, wander to the edge of the property where there are deer standing in rows…simply staring at them. Deer don’t do that. Your first clue.
THE PERMANENT VISISTORS
That night, their children asleep, now a knock at the door. A man in a tuxedo and his college-age daughter are standing there, the man introducing himself as the owner of the house. They had been away from the city, but are now afraid to return. The city has completely lost power and surely Clay and Amanda will let them stay… the man owns the house. Julia Roberts begins the tension that will expand the plot, rise to various climaxes. So, they own the house. Clay and Amanda are renting, this is their weekend, they don’t want to be disturbed. But the owner explains there is no choice. They need shelter. Roberts is the hardest to convince, her weekend dream destroyed, her propensity to prejudice reawakened. The owner and his daughter are Black. When Amanda can get Clay alone, she is adamant: these two are lying!
Rumaan Alam is Black. His creation of characters who struggle not to be prejudiced, but under stress seem to collapse into their worst selves is highlighted in the novel and in the film. Robert’s character is a perfect example. She struggles with the situation: after all, they rented this house; so it is theirs for the weekend; and why did this have to happen; well if they have to stay, they can sleep in the suite on the lower level. Echoes…the first night passes.
So what else will Alam present in this novel, as it wildly moves from a calm weekend to Clay driving into the country, as if to discover the answer to what is going on in the world; he does come upon a woman; but she has no answers, can only speak Spanish, is running away from something, running toward him down the highway, begging for help. He turns his car around, leaving her in the dust.
But as Clay struggles to go back to his family, this rented house, a plane crashes over the ocean; hundreds of electric cars are driving toward him, powered by their computers, no driver needed. While back at the house, Rose, his daughter, continues to be enthralled by deer, who seem to be gathering in large number just beyond the house.
DO I HAVE YOUR INTEREST YET?
This is a novel and now a film of great power. Alam is presenting a future that might destroy us…and if so, why? Is it our inability to help one another? Our ignorance, our giving ourselves over to computers and automation, not knowing what secret powers they might unleash on the world, power bringing destruction instead of peace? And is Rose (quiet and gentle like a flower) the only one lured to nature instead of machines, computers, the hard reality that never embraces with kindness?
See the film, read the book. Then answer some of these questions for yourself and for those you love. Thanks for reading.
One Response
Beth,
The way you built suspense in this review has peaked my interest. Yes, I will be watching
Leave the World Behind.
Pat