Anniversary ☆☆ 1/2

Starring: Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler, Dylan O’Brien, Phoebe Dynevor, Madeline Brewer, Zoey Deutch,

Directed by: Jan Komasa

irected by Jan Komasa, the same Polish filmmaker behind Good Boy (not the one with the dog) — Anniversary follows a tight-knit family whose relationship is tested when one of their own begins to date a woman with a radical ideology. What at first glance seems to be a revenge thriller quickly transforms into a gloomy commentary on the true meaning of democracy and what happens when rights and freedoms are suddenly non-existent. When a country is governed by a system that preaches unity, but later morphs into a dictatorship. Although the set of circumstances in the film is far from what’s happening right now, it puts things into perspective, even if in a flawed way.

The film opens with a celebration, as Ellen (Diane Lane) and Paul Taylor (Kyle Chandler) commemorate their 25th anniversary, joined by their three daughters, their son, and their close friends. Declarations of love and joy overflow until the couple is introduced to Josh’s (Dylan O’Brien) new girlfriend, Liz (Phoebe Dynevor). Although she presents herself as charming and put-together, there is a hint of cynicism in her smile and the way she congratulates them on their marital milestone. It is only after a while that it dawns on Ellen that this isn’t the first time that she and Liz have crossed paths. Years prior, she taught the latter at Georgetown University, where she vividly recalls reading Liz’s thesis and denouncing it for its extremist political ideas. This realisation makes her restless, wondering if his girlfriend’s beliefs might’ve corrupted her son. In an attempt to alert him, Ellen is immediately dismissed by Josh, who finds that being with someone like Liz will finally set him free from his mother’s over-protection and his family’s constant resentment of his failed career as a writer. As he and his girlfriend say goodbye to his parents after the party, Liz gives Ellen an anniversary gift. Upon unwrapping it, the matriarch notices that underneath the packaging lies the materialised version of her biggest fears. Liz’s thesis inspired a book that’s been published, entitled The Change.

Much like its name, the book’s bestselling status sparks a movement across the nation in favour of its ideology. From what is vaguely explained in the film, The Change preaches the notion of a country no longer divided by two prominent political parties. Instead of having families torn apart over their diverging views on conservatism and liberalism, the book presents the idea of a united nation, where everyone shares the same beliefs and pledges their oaths to an alternate version of the U.S. flag. Instead of the blue square filled with the stars representing each state being placed at the top corner, this iteration has it strategically placed in the middle of the red and white stripes. Ellen’s worry over her son’s relationship soon converges into a greater concern about the fate of democracy.

Anniversary is anything but subtle in its exploration of a totalitarian regime. The spread of the flag might be the first sign of an imminent shift here, but soon enough, the Taylors are forced to behave with caution even within their own home. Aside from Ellen displaying her rage against Liz and the revolution she ignited, Josh’s siblings do not fall short in denouncing who their brother has become ever since marrying the leader of an alarming movement. Particularly, Josh’s sister, Anna (Madeline Brewer), is a comedian known for being brutally honest on stage. It doesn’t take long for her vocal stance against The Change to come back to haunt her, proving that sometimes the first people to be attacked when freedom of speech is under threat are comedians, followed by professors and journalists. The film showcases the gradual effects of people being silenced for having opposing views from the masses, especially as the restrictions grow and there is less and less room to think differently.

Komasa’s direction provides a stark comparison between the exposition and the resolution, allowing viewers to notice how the characters are individually affected by Liz’s message being federally implemented. Ellen’s level of confidence and the respect she’s garnered from faculty and students vanish over time, as she caves in to the government’s demands. Josh, who starts harmless and somewhat desolate, loses every ounce of empathy he has ever had after marrying Liz. Even Birdy (played by McKenna Grace), the youngest and most reserved member of the Taylor family, goes through an internal shift. Although Anniversary does make viewers reflect on its political theme by observing the reverberations that The Change inflicts on this family, the film isn’t clear about what motivated the events that unfold throughout its runtime. After all, the antagonist is never fully developed, and her intentions remain hidden till the credits roll. Did Liz start this movement just to enact revenge on a professor who once humiliated her in front of an entire class, or did she truly believe that her book would inspire a greater good?

As is the case for several other ensemble-driven films, this one doesn’t take advantage of all its stars. Zoey Deutch is underutilised and confined to a melodramatic arc that distracts from Anniversary’s focus. Given that there are a few different characters to follow, viewers never get enough time with each of them to get a complete grasp on who they are apart from the conflict surrounding them. The film is at its best when Lane and Chandler share the screen, giving a powerful portrayal of a couple who will do anything to protect their family in the face of adversity. Their dog-naming argument in the middle of the film is devastating, proving how hard it can be to be hopeful when you are no longer in control. The couple’s go-to song, ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ by Crowded House, adopts a whole new meaning from their dance sequence at the beginning to the one later on in the film.

Anniversary might be a topical political drama, proving that in order to maintain democracy, there has to be room for debate. By honing in on how a family is affected by a woman who barges into their lives with her radical ideology, the film explores how different people might react to being under a totalitarian regime. Despite Lane and Chandler elevating Anniversary with their respective performances, the film doesn’t reward its stacked cast with the memorable onscreen moments they each deserved. As a whole, Komasa’s latest directorial effort might’ve been well-intentioned, but it doesn’t fully live up to expectations by leaving viewers in the dark about what prompted Liz’s ideology in the first place.

– Courtesy: Collider.com