It’s been eight long years, but the elusive three-time Oscar winnerDaniel Day-Lewishas returned to star in the upcoming family dramaAnemone. Focus Features shared the official trailer today, reintroducing the actor to audiences for the first time sincePaul Thomas Anderson’sPhantom Threadin a role that will be emotional for multiple reasons. He’s set to lead the film oppositeThe Lord of the RingsandGame of ThronesfavoriteSean Bean, who plays a middle-aged man setting out to reunite with his estranged hermit brother. What follows is a story exploring the nature of the bond between fathers, sons, and brothers throughout the journey of life, and the generational conflicts that emerge along the way.
Anemonetakes place in Northern England, where the brother played by Bean begins his journey. Leaving behind his suburban home, he heads out into the woods to find Day-Lewis and reconnect years after the events in their lives drove them apart. There’s a tension to their relationship, colored bythe complicated past they shareand the catastrophic events that drove a wedge between them in the decades prior. Yet, there’s still a tenderness for each other that shines through, despite all the time that has passed. The film isn’t just about the present, but the many years before that the brothers shed light on throughout its runtime. With their reunion, they look to chart a course to familial redemption and, perhaps,go on a nice motorcycle ride together.
Aside from the emotional premise, it’s also a meaningful project for Day-Lewis because the film marks the directorial debut of his son,Ronan Day-Lewis. Both father and son co-wroteAnemone, which also had some heavyweight production power behind it, withBrad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment banner backing. The Oscar and BAFTA-winning lead actors are joined by a supporting cast featuring up-and-comerSamuel Bottomley,The Lazarus ProjectalumSafia Oakley-Green, and another Oscar nominee inMinority ReportstarSamantha Morton.
‘Anemone’ Will Begin Its Run on the Festival Circuit
It’s unclear if Day-Lewis is returning to acting in a deeper capacity or if the father-son collaboration is an exception, and he’ll return to retirement. Regardless,Anemoneis an exciting development for fans of theThere Will Be Bloodstar after years of silence. Before appearing on the big screen, the project will make its world premiere at the New York Film Festival, which runs from September 24 through October 13. There, it’ll be featured as part of the Spotlight section of the event, joining a stacked lineup including theApple docuseriesMr. Scorsese,Richard Linklater’s latest titles,Nouvelle VagueandBlue Moon, and, as the Gala Selection, theJeremy Allen White-ledBruce SpringsteenbiopicDeliver Me from Nowhere.
Anemoneopens in limited theaters on October 3 before going wide on October 10. Check out the trailer in the player above.
