Daniel Day-Lewis returns to cinema after an eight-year hiatus and continues to prove why he’s the greatest actor of the modern era. Anemone is a family affair, directed by Daniel’s son Ronan Day-Lewis in a script they wrote together about the broken relationship between a former British soldier, his brother and the son he mysteriously abandoned at birth. Anemone’s stunning cinematography and gripping interpersonal drama are surpassed only by Daniel’s embodiment of a riveting protagonist. He commands the screen with gravitas, rage and dark humor in a performance that could win him an astonishing fourth Oscar.
Set in the rainy and lush green forests of Northern England, we first see Ray Stoker (Day-Lewis) doing chores at a remote cabin. He’s lean and chiseled out of stone. It’s evident that Ray has been there for some time. Meanwhile, in a distant small village, Jem Stoker (Sean Bean), Ray’s brother, says a prayer to aid him on a desperate mission. Jem tries to speak to Brian (Samuel Bottomley) before he leaves, but the angry young man doesn’t respond while cradling his bruised and battered hands.
Healing a Broken Family
- Release Date
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October 10, 2025
- Runtime
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97 minutes
- Director
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Ronan Day-Lewis
Jem kisses his wife Nessa (Samantha Morton) before embarking on a motorcycle loaded with camping gear. He rides down winding roads until veering into thick woods, where Jem camouflages the bike as he proceeds on foot. Later, at the cabin, Ray hears rustling and grabs an ax. He puts it down as a clicking sound signals that his brother has arrived after 20 long years apart.
Anemone has almost no dialogue for its first 20 minutes. Ronan, in his feature debut, captures Ray and his verdant environment with the sound of rustling trees accompanied by grinding guitars. It’s eerily mesmerizing, as we don’t know what kind of reception Jem is going to receive when he arrives at the cabin. Their reunion is surprisingly quiet, with no real acknowledgments of the past but the courtesy of warm tea and a place for Jem to lay his sleeping bag. Jem obviously wants to talk. He’s come this far for an important reason, but Ray couldn’t care less. He moves at his own speed, and no one can force him to do anything. He discarded the outside world for his own reasons. This is the door that Jem needs to unlock while bringing troubling news about Brian.
Brothers Reunited
The Stoker family dynamics are woven with knotted complexity. Their frayed ties lie at the heart of the film, and are a journey of discovery the audience must also undertake. Ray is an enigma to those who love him. He’s hiding from something so devastating, everything sacred had to be shed like an unbearable weight. But his cold turn shattered everyone left in its cruel wake, as Ray left like smoke in the wind with no explanation. In the aftermath, Jem and Nessa found solace in each other, making a life together out of what Ray abandoned. But Brian grew up to be a mirror image of his father, fueled by darkness and secrecy. Only Ray has the answers that Brian needs to hear after a lifetime of questions.
The central theme of a father being alien to his son affects Jem and Ray in different ways. Jem has raised Brian as his own, but there’s a void that only Ray can bridge. That same distance separated Jem and Ray from their father, and much of the film has the brothers facing a collective reckoning about their upbringing. These scenes are intense and smoldering, but also comical with moments of genuine laughter. Ray’s brusque personality and standoffish nature mask simmering layers of regret and shame. He’s akin to a slowly peeled onion, bringing more tears with the depth of Daniel’s magnificent range.
Daniel Day-Lewis’ Stunning Return
Jem is a devout Christian who believes in God’s purpose, while Ray openly mocks his brother and takes pleasure in poking at his beliefs. Interestingly, this isn’t a point of contention, but simply where the brothers’ divergent paths have led them. Ray’s experiences have him cursing the almighty, while Jem finds meaning and salvation. The quiet genius of Bean’s supporting role is that he, like Jem, allows Daniel to exhale and expel the hurt that’s been bottled up inside. Jem is unselfish and giving in a way that sets the stage for Ray’s catharsis. He’s the receiver for a transmission that should have been sent years ago. It’s the path for Ray to move forward from his solitude, and possibly reconnect with Brian.
Meanwhile, Ronan connects wide-open spaces and nature’s tumult to his father’s unburdening of sins. The climax is nearly biblical in its wrathful visual expression. The apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree, as the cinematography and acting reach a fever pitch. Ronan pans right on epic, wide angle shots before cutting to direct close-ups of Ray’s startling confession. Daniel does not disappoint, and delivers a spellbinding monologue that will have audiences enthralled.
Anemone is an artistic and thoughtful endeavor that requires stalwart patience. Ronan could have trimmed the edges for a sleeker pace, but his father’s towering presence couldn’t be rushed. There’s a careful balance between Daniel at the film’s center and every other piece hovering in his orbit. Aspiring thespians take note: This is the pinnacle of the craft in its purest form.
Anemone is a production of Plan B Entertainment. It opens in wide release on October 10th from Focus Features.