When a new filmmaker emerges on the scene, that director is often held to an almost impossibly high level of scrutiny, as if being judged before a panel evaluating a grad student’s thesis. To a certain extent, that can be an arduous but worthwhile trial to see if the candidate has what it takes to defend his or her case and, ultimately, to cut it in the field into which entry is being sought. At the same time, though, it’s important to remember that the cinematic newcomer has likely never attempted anything like this before and that there’s bound to be an inescapable learning curve involved. Such are the circumstances surrounding the debut offering from Ronan Day-Lewis in his first feature outing, an ambitious if sometimes-flawed collaboration with his father, three-time Oscar-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis, who comes out of retirement after eight years in making his return to the big screen. And, while there certainly are qualities that could have been better handled, this is nevertheless an impressive premiere for the new director, one that, one hopes, bodes well for an auspicious future. “Anemone” is, by its nature, a picture that’s difficult to characterize, but I see it as an intensely personal drama made up of a collection of anecdotal stories that delve into the complexities involved in interpersonal relationships between brothers and between fathers and sons. This includes the experiences of siblings Ray and Jem Stoker (Day-Lewis, Sean Bean), along with those of their son/stepson, Brian (Samuel Bottomley), as well as Brian’s marginalized mother, Nessa (Samantha Morton). These accounts address a variety of incidents involving personal trauma and the forgiveness (or lack thereof) associated with them. Their explicit and detailed confessions recount painful occurrences that stemmed from military service, family relations, and interactions with authority figures, such as implicitly trusted clergymen who never should have been accorded such respect to begin with. In the process, these revelations explore themes related to toxic masculinity, mental health issues (particularly PTSD), the willingness to face (or avoid) one’s demons, and cultural behavioral expectations, including whether they should be adhered to unwaveringly. Because of the approach used here, the pacing has been criticized by some as overly slow and plodding, but, given the eloquence of the writing in conveying them, I found this take to be quite effective, coming across like listening to engaging, earnest and heartfelt storytelling being imparted to what one would hope is a willing, sensitive and supportive audience. This narrative is further enhanced by stylistically stunning cinematography and an emotive and atmospheric score, creating a visual painting accompanied by a fitting musical backdrop. And then there are the superb performances of Day-Lewis in a triumphant return to his craft, showing that he hasn’t lost a step since his last on-screen appearance, as well as the fine supporting portrayals by Bean, Bottomley, and, especially, Morton. For all of these strengths, however, the production has some issues with its ill-considered attempts at symbolism and surrealism, occasional narrative meandering, and sequences that could have used some judicious film editing. However, considering that this is the filmmaker’s first attempt at plying his craft, I’d much rather see him take the risk of experimenting in these ways than falling back on formula elements, even if not all of them work out as hoped for. “Anemone” may not be a perfect film, but I would hate to see it mercilessly trod upon for its shortcomings. There’s enough discouragement in the world these days to see an excessive amount of it heaped upon a promising filmmaker at a time when the industry can use all of the fresh and inventive new talent it can get.
