The Return: Daniel Day-Lewis Anemone Review – Guilt, Greatness, and Tricky Dialogue

Andrea Vogt – The absolute force and command of Daniel Day-Lewis carries Anemone. It is a genuine pleasure to see his return to the screen. Anemone is a movie filled with big scenes and big performances. Day-Lewis co-wrote the film with his son, Ronan, who also directs. The movie centers on a father dealing with the consequences of neglecting his son.

However, the film has its flaws. Without Day-Lewis, its laborious dramatic gestures and “macho-sensitive narcissism” might have been difficult to accept. Even with Day-Lewis, some dialogue feels tricky. Nonetheless, his instinctive command makes him endlessly watchable.

An Endlessly Watchable Exiled Emperor

Day-Lewis plays Ray, a former army sergeant. Ray now lives an ascetic, hermit existence in a remote forest hut in the late 1990s. He cultivates anemones, a flower his own father used to grow. Ray radiates an aura of angry integrity and self-reliance. Watching him, you realize how much you want to see Day-Lewis play major theatrical roles.

Ray’s isolated life is suddenly interrupted. His brother, Jem (played by Sean Bean), arrives unexpectedly. Jem is on a mission. He wants Ray to return home to his wife, Nessa (Samantha Morton), and their teenage son, Brian (Samuel Bottomley).

Crucially, Jem has been living with Ray’s family as the primary husband and father figure. This situation fuels Ray’s intense rage.

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Toxic Masculinity and Hidden Guilt

The core conflict of Anemone revolves around guilt and reconnection. Ray’s son, Brian, followed his father by joining the army. Brian is now in serious trouble for violent brawling. Brian desperately needs to reconnect with his estranged father. Both father and son must confront their own “toxic masculinity and hurt.”

Ray is forced to talk about his past. He must confront why he was forced out of the army after his last tour of duty in Northern Ireland, years ago. When the audience finally hears about the terrible events during the Troubles, the reveal is complex. Surprisingly, it is made clear that Ray is not guilty of anything culpable.

Yet, Day-Lewis sells this magnificent lie. He convincingly portrays the crushing weight of guilt and exile. Indeed, the actor can’t help but look like an “exiled emperor” burdened by a past he cannot escape.

A Film of Big Moments

Anemone is a movie with a high opinion of itself. It is filled with big images, epiphanies, and even hallucinations. Not every one of these elements works perfectly. However, the towering presence of Daniel Day-Lewis Anemone settles the film. His “fascinating theatricality and artifice” anchors the entire viewing experience, transforming what could have been a laborious family drama into a compelling character study.

Anemone is currently playing in UK and Irish cinemas from November 7.