History Film / TheGiver

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* AdaptationExpansion: The film mentions The Ruin, although that wouldn't be discussed in the books until ''Literature/GatheringBlue.'' The mechanism on how [[spoiler:Jonas's memories are shared with the community when he leaves]] is handwaved as being a technological force field he has to pass to release the memories, where in the book, it just happens with no real explanation.
%% * AdvertisedExtra: Taylor Swift as Rosemary, a PosthumousCharacter who appears in perhaps three scenes.

* AscendedExtra: The Chief Elder of the Community from is a minor character in ''[[Literature/TheGiver the book]]'', but is bumped up to be the BigBad (as the representation of the totalitarian authority) here. To a lesser extent, Asher and Fiona (who just...stop appearing in the narration after a certain point in the book) have far more to do in the film than they do in the book.

* NeverTrustATrailer: In something of a repeat of the ''BridgeToTerabithia'' situation, the film's trailers made it look like a brainless action movie only made to cash in on the success of the likes of ''Film/TheHungerGames'' and ''Film/{{Divergent}}''. It's actually much closer to [[Literature/TheGiver the book's story]].
* PromotedToLoveInterest: In the book, Fiona is a good friend of Jonas's whom he eventually drifts apart from (although he's definitely interested in her). In the film [[spoiler: he manages to convince her to stop taking the injections and she realizes she loves him as well. She eventually aids in his escape and he promises her he'd come back for her]].

* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: Repeatedly discussed that there are no words to describe love, a feeling that's totally alien to the Community. One scene where Jonas and Fiona are kissing on security footage, an elder questions what they were doing.

* NeverTrustATrailer: In something of a repeat of the ''BridgeToTerabithia'' situation, the film's trailers made it look like a brainless action movie only made to cash in on the success of the likes of ''Film/TheHungerGames'' and ''Literature/{{Divergent}}''. It's actually much closer to [[Literature/TheGiver the book's story]].

* WarIsHell: One of the memories Jonas receives [[spoiler: *by accident, as The Giver transmitted it to him by mistake during a PTSD flashback)]] is of the VietnamWar.

* AdaptationExpansion: The film mentions The Ruin, although that wouldn't be discussed until ''Literature/GatheringBlue.'' The mechanism on how [[spoiler:Jonas's memories are shared with the community when he leaves]] is handwaved as being a technological force field he has to pass to release the memories, where in the book, it just happens with no real explanation.

* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: Repeatedly discussed that there are no words to describe love, a feeling that's totally alien to the Community.

* AdaptationPersonalityChange: Asher is consistently happy and cheerful throughout the book (where he's assigned a recreational position), while in the film he starts off that way but becomes more serious and unsmiling after being assigned drone pilot.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Unlike in the book, the film actually shows what happens when [[spoiler: Jonas manages to return the memories to the Community-overcome by the implications of their actions, several of the characters start crying out in shock]].

* AdvertisedExtra: Taylor Swift as Rosemary, a PosthumousCharacter who appears in perhaps three scenes.

* IShallReturn: Jonas promises that he'd return to the Community and Fiona. [[note]] Notable because in the book he makes no such promise, and in the sequels he eventually settles down in (and marries someone from) another village. [[/note]]

* IShallReturn: Jonas promises that he'd return to the Community and Fiona. [[note]] Notable because in the book he makes no such promise, and in the sequels he eventually settles down in (and marries someone from) another village. [[/note]]
* NeverTrustATrailer: In something of a repeat of the ''BridgeToTerabithia'' situation, the film's trailers made it look like a brainless action movie only made to cash in on the success of the likes of ''TheHungerGames'' and ''{{Divergent}}''. It's actually much closer to the book's story.

* SplashOfColor: As in the book, Fiona's red hair is this at first, standing out in a black-and-white society to Jonas, one of two people who can see color.

* SplashOfColor: As in the book, Fiona's red hair is this at first, standing out in a black-and-white society to Jonas, one of two people who can see color.
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: Repeatedly discussed that there are no words to describe love, a feeling that's totally alien to the Community.

* TwoGuysAndAGirl: Jonas, Asher, and Fiona's dynamic is like this before things go down. The disruption of their friendship brought about by their conflicting responsibilities is even {{lampshaded}} by Fiona, when she snidely throws a "Friends forever, right?" at Asher when the latter reports Jonas's attempted escape. [[spoiler: Eventually, Asher aids in his escape as well]].

* AscendedExtra: The Chief Elder was a bit character in the book, but is the KnightTemplar BigBad here in order to give Meryl Streep more screentime. To a lesser extent, Asher and Fiona have far more to do in the film than they did in the book.

* DeliberatelyMonochrome: The first part is shot in black and white as people cannot see colors. When Jonas receives the memory of colors, red tones begin to show first (as he learns to see red first), and eventually the full spectrum is shown onscreen. [[spoiler: When Jonas leaves the Community scenes shot there are in black and white until he returns the memories.]]

* ChildhoodFriendRomance: The film emphasizes the fact that Jonas and Fiona had been close since their childhood.

* BirthmarkOfDestiny: Here the ability to "see beyond" seems to be linked to a spot-shaped birthmark on one's wrist, as opposed to the series where it was indicated by pale blue eyes.

In the future, humanity has managed to eliminate all warfare, pain, illness, and suffering and has created a perfect society ruled by the nearly-omniscient Elders -- but at the cost of removing any disruptive memories from the collective consciousness. Instead, these memories are passed on to the Receiver of Memory, whose job is to advise the Elders on any matter beyond their experience. When sixteen-year-old Jonas is chosen to become the next Receiver of Memory and unearths the secrets of Sameness, he and the Giver conspire to change their society forever.

* IShallReturn: Jonas promises that he'd return to the Community and Fiona. [[note]] Notable because in the book he makes no such promise, and eventually settles down in another village. [[/note]]

* HumansAreFlawed [=/=] HumansAreSpecial: All emotions have been evolved out of humanity in order for it to overcome its flaws, and from a totalitarian standpoint it ''works'' -- but as Jonas and the Giver show the Community, emotions are what make life worth it and are part of what make us special.
-->'''Chief Elder''': When people have the power to choose, they choose wrong.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Unlike in the book, the film actually shows what happens when [[spoiler: Jonas manages to return the memories to the Community -- overcome by the implications of their actions, several of the characters start crying out of shock]].

* TwoGuysAndAGirl: Jonas, Asher, and Fiona's dynamic is like this before things go down. The disruption of their friendship brought about by their conflicting responsibilities is even lampshaded by Fiona, when she snidely throws a "Friends forever, right?" at Asher when the latter reports Jonas's attempted escape. [[spoiler: Eventually, Asher aids in his escape as well]].

* AgeLift: Jonas, Fiona, Asher, and their classmates were eleven going on twelve in the book (the "graduation to adulthood" ceremony is called the Ceremony of Twelve), but have been aged up to sixteen for the movue.

* AgeLift: Jonas, Fiona, Asher, and their classmates were eleven going on twelve in the book (the "graduation to adulthood" ceremony is called the Ceremony of Twelve), but have been aged up to sixteen for the book.

'''''The Giver''''' is a 2014 science fiction film directed by Phillip Noyce. It is an [[TheFilmOfTheBook adaptation]] of Lois Lowry's [[Literature/TheGiver bestselling young adult novel of the same name]], starring Brenton Thwaites as Jonas, Creator/MerylStreep as the Chief Elder, Jeff Bridges as The Giver, Odeya Rush as Fiona, and Katie Holmes and Creator/AlexanderSkarsgard as Jonas's parents.

!!Tropes which apply to ''The Giver'':

* HumansAreFlawed [=/=] HumansAreSpecial: All emotions have been evolved out of humanity in order for it to overcome its flaws, and from a totalitarian standpoint it ''works'' -- but as Jonas and the Giver show the Community, it's not worth it as emotions are what make life worth it and are part of what make us special.

* IShallReturn: Jonas promises himself that he'd return to the Community and Fiona. [[note]] In the book he makes no such promise, and eventually settles down in another village. [[/note]]