"I can't lend a hand... until you unburden your tale." Focus Features has unveiled the highly anticipated first official trailer for "Anemone," marking the triumphant return of legendary British thespian Daniel Day-Lewis, now in his 68th year. Slated for a world premiere in the Spotlight section of the 2025 New York Film Festival, the film will make its cinematic debut later in October, bypassing Venice, Telluride, and TIFF altogether. This poignant drama delves into the intricate webs of familial ties among fathers, sons, and brothers, unraveling through personal odysseys and generational strife.
The narrative follows a middle-aged man who ventures from his suburban abode into the forest, where he reunites with his reclusive, estranged brother, portrayed by Oscar-adorned Daniel Day-Lewis. Their bond, forged in a labyrinthine past, manifests in a relationship fraught with tension yet tinged with tenderness. Sean Bean and Samantha Morton also star in this cinematic endeavor, co-penned and helmed by Daniel's son, Ronan Day-Lewis, in his directorial feature debut. Ben Fordesman's striking cinematography adds a visual flair that promises a stylistically compelling watch.
Introducing via NYFF: "Daniel Day-Lewis, a triple Oscar winner, makes a thunderous return to the silver screen after an eight-year hiatus in 'Anemone,' a captivating family drama directed by Ronan Day-Lewis. This film, co-written by father and son, explores lives derailed by seemingly insurmountable legacies of political and personal violence. Set in Northern England, 'Anemone' commences with a middle-aged man (Sean Bean) embarking from his suburban home on a journey into the woods to reconnect with his hermit brother (Day-Lewis). United by a mysterious and intricate past, their relationship, though often tumultuous, harbors moments of gentleness—a bond irrevocably altered by traumatic events decades prior."
Ronan Day-Lewis, the fledgling filmmaker and son of Daniel, makes his feature directorial bow with "Anemone," following a handful of short films. The screenplay is a collaborative effort between Ronan and Daniel Day-Lewis, produced by Plan B Entertainment. The film will have its premiere at the 2025 New York Film Festival this autumn. Subsequently, Focus Features will release Ronan Day-Lewis's "Anemone" in select US theaters commencing October 3rd, 2025.
First impressions? It looks nothing short of promising, painting a vivid tapestry of emotions and drama set against the backdrop of familial complexities.
