Anemone: Cold Reunions
by Rohan Connolly
Upon hearing that Daniel Day-Lewis was coming out of his nearly decade-long retirement to star in Anemone (2025), my fingers almost bought the tickets on their own. In a film directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis and co-written by the pair, Daniel plays the role of Ray Stoker, a former military man who has exiled himself deep in the forests of England leaving his brother Jem (Sean Bean) to care for his partner Nessa (Samantha Morton) and teenage son Brian (Samuel Bottomley) whom he has never met. Jem must venture into the forest to reconnect with his brother and urge him to come home and give his son the support he needs.
The film is simple, made up mostly of conversations between the two brothers reminiscing on their relationship, upbringing, and reflecting on their respective lives. Ray must come to terms with his trauma, and Jem is doing his best to make room for his brother while fighting on behalf of the people who need Ray most. Day-Lewis and Bean play perfectly off each other, delivering powerful performances each in their own way. Day-Lewis performs two monologues throughout the film that are absolutely hypnotizing, and Bean’s more subdued performance is just as deserving of praise, with Jem communicating mostly through long looks, sighs, and quiet chuckles. The chemistry between the two actors is palpable throughout the film whether they are swimming in the Irish Sea, wrestling in the mud, or simply sitting by the crackling fire. It becomes obvious quickly that we are seeing two masters at work.
The only hindrance to the performances, ultimately, is a somewhat weak script. It is clear that this is Director Ronan Day-Lewis’ first film, despite the star power on screen. The story is a simple one, contained mostly to these two men in the forest, but it could have done with slightly more structure to guide the characters through their emotional journeys. But for a first try, it is a sign of good things to come. Day-Lewis knows the story he wants to tell, and created a visual feast while doing so. The lush greens of the forest paired against the warmth of Ray’s cottage are stunning and perfectly communicate the cold but comforting feeling that reuniting with an estranged family member can be: simultaneously gloomily isolating and warm to the point of claustrophobia.