Swansong (2021), written and directed by Benjamin Cleary, is a thought-provoking science fiction film that explores themes of identity, self-sacrifice, and the nature of life and death. At its heart, the film revolves around a man, Cameron Turner (played by Mahershala Ali), who is diagnosed with a terminal illness and offered a controversial medical procedure that clones him, allowing his family to believe the clone is the real Cameron while he faces death in isolation. As we follow Cameron’s emotional journey, the film raises profound questions about what it means to be truly alive, the value of human life, and the moral and existential dilemmas we face when confronted with death.
Spoiler Alert: This review will contain spoilers regarding the plot and themes of Swansong. If you haven’t seen the film yet and wish to avoid spoilers, please read no further.
From a Catholic perspective, Swansong offers a rich tapestry for reflection, raising questions on bioethics, the sanctity of life, and the nature of the soul. Although the film does not overtly address religious themes, its exploration of these deep moral issues provides ample ground for spiritual and theological analysis.
The Sanctity of Life and the Dilemma of Cloning
One of the key issues that Swansong raises is the moral question of cloning, which immediately echoes Catholic concerns regarding the sanctity of human life. The Church has consistently opposed cloning and artificial reproduction methods that separate the procreation of life from the act of natural love, as outlined in documents such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Donum Vitae (the 1987 Vatican document on bioethics).
The notion of cloning, as presented in Swansong, offers a chilling yet futuristic version of the ethical dilemma posed by artificial reproduction. The film’s depiction of a human clone who is essentially a carbon copy of Cameron, right down to his memories, raises significant moral questions about the uniqueness of each individual.
From a Catholic viewpoint, cloning might be seen as a violation of the dignity and uniqueness of the human person. In the film, the creation of the clone isn’t just about replicating a body—it also involves creating an alternate life that must wrestle with its own identity, the fear of its purpose, and its understanding of life and death. In Catholic teaching, life is considered a sacred gift from God, and human beings are viewed as irreducible to mere biological material. The fact that the film leaves us pondering the moral complexity of creating another life to replace the one destined for death underscores the Church’s view that human life cannot be replicated or commodified without violating its inherent dignity.
The Nature of Death and Sacrifice
The Catholic Church teaches that death is a natural part of life, but it is also a moment of transition into eternal life, for those who are faithful. In Swansong, Cameron faces his own mortality, and the promise of a clone that will live on in his stead presents a moral temptation to avoid the reality of death. In a Catholic context, there is also the understanding that death is not the end, but a passage to eternal life. The challenge Cameron faces, however, is not merely physical death but the question of whether the clone can ever truly “live” as he does, with the same soul, love, and moral responsibility. In Catholic teaching, the soul is the essential and irreplaceable core of the person—something that cannot be cloned or replicated. This discrepancy between body and soul is central to the Catholic understanding of the human person, and it underscores a profound theological concern with the film’s premise of cloning. The film poignantly grapples with the human instinct to prolong life, especially in the face of suffering, a desire which can often conflict with the spiritual truths of the Catholic faith about the purpose of life and death.
The Ethics of Love and Memory
Another dimension of Swansong worth exploring from a Catholic perspective is its handling of memory and the ethics of love. Cameron’s decision to let the clone live while he dies hinges on the idea that his family will be able to “continue on” with his memory, but it also brings up the question of whether a cloned person can genuinely embody the same love and relationships.
In Catholic thought, love is seen as the most essential of virtues, but love is not merely about memories or physical presence; it is rooted in the soul and lived out through our actions. Swansong implicitly asks whether a clone can “love” the same way as the original person, or whether love is something deeper, connected to the unique identity of each individual. It also raises questions about the ethics of memory itself—whether it’s morally permissible for someone to carry on a life with someone else’s memories, while the original person’s identity is slowly fading.
The idea of memory, as well, can be linked to Catholic notions of the afterlife. In Catholicism, while earthly memories may fade, the soul and its relationship to God and others persist beyond physical death. This raises the question of whether the clone’s existence truly honors the life and love that Cameron shared with his family, or whether it replaces it with an artificial approximation that lacks the depth and holiness of lived human relationships.
Suffering and Redemption
Finally, Swansong touches on the themes of suffering and redemption—key elements of the Catholic faith. In Catholic theology, suffering is not meaningless but can be redemptive when united with Christ’s own suffering (Colossians 1:24). Cameron’s internal struggle and eventual acceptance of his death can be seen as a reflection of the suffering that is part of the human condition, and in this suffering, there can be a form of personal redemption, both for him and for those around him.
The film doesn’t offer a clear-cut answer to the nature of death or what happens to the soul after the body dies, but it subtly suggests that human life, with all its complexities, is irreplaceable. The idea that someone can be “replaced” by a clone is presented not as a solution, but as a deep moral and existential question. From a Catholic perspective, the answer might be that death, while painful, is a necessary part of God’s plan for human beings, and through it, there is the possibility of eternal life.
Conclusion
Swansong is a beautifully crafted exploration of life, death, and identity, but from a Catholic perspective, it raises complex moral questions about cloning, the sanctity of life, and the role of suffering in our spiritual journeys. While the film’s premise may seem to offer an escape from death, the Catholic worldview invites us to see death as a transition, not an end, and to embrace life with all its challenges and imperfections. The true worth of a person, according to Catholic teaching, is not in the biological continuity of their existence but in their unique soul, their love for others, and their relationship with God. Through its meditation on self-sacrifice and identity, Swansong challenges us to reflect on the profound spiritual truths that govern the human experience, offering a rich narrative for those seeking to reconcile the temporal with the eternal.