“Anemone” follows two estranged brothers as hidden secrets and long-buried resentments come to light when they reunite at a cabin deep in the woods of Northern England.
Silence Speaks Volumes
For the first 15 minutes of the runtime, “Anemone” is full of silence. The film focuses on beautiful visuals of an isolated environment alongside equally isolated characters. This quietness shows where the individuals are, both physically and mentally.
That desolate feeling lingers through the entirety of “Anemone.” It’s a movie that often feels hopeless, with a looming curse hanging over every scene.
A Fractured Story of Connection
“Anemone” tells two different stories – one of Ray (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Jem (Sean Bean), and the other of Nessa (Samantha Morton) and Brian (Samuel Bottomley). For large portions of the movie, they feel hardly connected. The tie is clear, but because they spend so much time apart, it often appears like it isn’t amounting to much. This leads to a frustrating knowledge gap between filmmaker and audience, as the story lacks direction.
“Anemone” struggles to be a compelling journey. The film relies completely on dialogue – for better or worse. In moments, the dynamic between Ray and Jem generates interesting conversation. In others, however, it’s simply dull. Those who don’t connect with the subject matter may quickly lose interest.
This eventually shifts in a positive direction, but never enough. The two storylines converge but never fully come together as they should. By the time “Anemone” reaches its conclusion, these inconsistencies loom large. It’s anticlimactic, dull and doesn’t stick the emotional landing needed to make the slow-moving journey worth it.
Beauty Without Balance
Amidst the psychological exploration is a wealth of beauty. Time and time again, “Anemone” turns an ordinary location into a stunning backdrop for discussion. As characters talk, it’s easy to get distracted by the on-screen beauty. Director Ronan Day-Lewis has a natural eye for the cinematic – taking advantage of atmospheric, even fantastical settings.
This causes the film to feel like more style than substance… as cliché as that sounds. The visuals are easily the most memorable element, while the story fades into the background.
Rather than developing a coherent plot, it often seems like the visuals are the only thing “Anemone” has on its mind. The film leans on that tactic more and more as the runtime progresses.
Outside of the scenery, the well-rounded ensemble makes “Anemone” watchable. Daniel Day-Lewis came out of retirement for this project, which he co-wrote with his son, who also directed. Day-Lewis effortlessly returns to the big screen, showcasing his character’s inner turmoil through moments of silence and explosive outbursts. He constantly balances the character’s duality with precision. Alongside Day-Lewis are Bean, Morton, and Bottomley. Bean holds his own in most of the film’s runtime, matching the emotional intensity of his co-star. While Morton and Bottomley are used more sparingly, both excel in the roles they’re given.
While often sporadic, the themes of family (specifically brotherhood), generational trauma and guilt are explored. Though these topics feel fragmented, “Anemone” offers glimmers of hope. With such deep-seated pain in the central characters, there’s plenty to unravel.
The score of “Anemone” can be described simply – superb. Bobby Krlic’s compositions heighten every scene, bringing emotion to moments that could otherwise feel lifeless.
“Anemone” will be a moving experience for some, but not all. It’s a frustrating journey, full of pretentious dialogue and an incohesive script. The stunning visuals, compelling score and outstanding performance from Daniel Day-Lewis elevate it, but the faults far outweigh the positives.
Rating: 2 out of 5
