ANIMA

ANIMA, released in 2019, is a singular cinematic experience that can be characterized as an intensely atmospheric and abstract fusion of magic realism, dystopian drama, and musical artistry. Navigating through the realms of dystopian dreams and eerie, Kafkaesque realities, this film is a profound, enchanting and chaotic river ride through a sleep-deprived subconscious.

This 15-minute short film stars Thom Yorke, the frontman of the highly acclaimed band Radiohead, who, together with his bandmate Nigel Godrich, has created the film’s mesmerising soundtrack. Also featuring are Dajana Roncione, an emerging Italian actress and Frida Dam Seidel, known for her acting in Danish films. The screenplay is written by famed writer/director, Paul Thomas Anderson, in collaboration with Thom Yorke.

At its heart, ANIMA captures the struggles and monotony of daily routine faced by a man, played by Yorke, in a gloomy, futuristic society where everyone moves in synchronised melancholy. Yorke’s use of evergreen strains of intricate electronica blend with dance movements and visual sequences to create a captivating experience. He navigates the drab urban landscape, moving in harmonised automation with the faceless crowd, but his desperate need for individuality and connection is clearly palpable, injecting an emotive pulse to the entire film.

Supporting the narrative, the luminous performance by Dajana Roncione radiates with subtle beauty and resonates a sense of elusive connection. She charismatically embodies the figure of hope and freedom amid the lifeless landscape, leaving the audience speculating about the nature and depth of her relationship with Yorke's character.

Yorke and Roncione's on-screen interaction forms the principal dynamic of the movie, their movements articulating a language of their own. This non-verbal communication, coupled with the mesmerising choreography by Damien Jalet, seamlessly fuses cinematic language with dance and music, thus highlighting Anderson’s deft handling of this experimental film.

In the backdrop, the cold, sharply geometric urban setting is contrasted with a warm, softer, more organic dream world that taps into universal anxieties and interpersonal connections. These frequent shifts in setting push the narrative forth, holding the audience’s interest in the surreal happenings that transpire as Yorke moves from reality to fantasy and back. Frida Dam Seidel’s role, while comparatively minor, is pivotal in reflecting the bleakness of this urban landscape.

The film explores themes such as alienation, displacement, pursuit of connections, and freedom, painting an impressionistic introspection of modern survival. Meanwhile, ANIMA’s captivating mise-en-scène, surreal transitions, and discerning cinematography accentuate Anderson’s signature style, making for a deeply enriching and visually sensorial film.

The splendid score by Thom Yorke incorporates techno-influenced, haunting music that drives the narrative and adds a subterranean energy to the film. Each track captures a different mood, providing commentary on and contrast to the visual narrative. Yorke’s music builds an integral layer of communication in ANIMA, connecting the characters and viewers on a subconscious level. The combined rhythmic patterns, beautifully compiled into the soundtrack, reverberate with the themes of displacement and dystopian monotony that dominate the film.

In essence, ANIMA is not just a film - it's an ecstatic exploration of cinematic practices that looks to break traditional narratives and norms. Anderson carefully interweaves elements of music, dance, and avant-garde cinematography, distinguished by rhythmic pacing and fabulous editing. The result is a filmic symphony that dips into the surreal and the ordinary, evoking a spellbinding mix of emotions.

In a world saturated with hustle, ANIMA provides a poignant, introspective break. To savour it fully, one must tune into its enigmatic rhythm, just like stepping onto a dance floor - surrendering to the untold stories that echo between the film frames. This short film offers a breather from standard movie viewing, allowing the audience to experience an immersive rhythmic spectacle studded with evocative visuals and a thought-evoking narrative melody.

Here, it's important to note that ANIMA is not a conventional, dialogue-led movie and might not appeal to all. But for those who appreciate interpretive storytelling and are drawn to the allure of alternative, experiential cinema, ANIMA proves to be an extraordinarily rewarding journey into the sombre landscapes of the subconscious, dense with underlying currents of human emotion, all overlaid with the phenomenal music of Thom Yorke.