Despite being released back in October of last year, Jan Komasa’s “Anniversary” has only just wriggled its way onto my Netflix home screen. Sparking my curiosity purely off of its categorisation as a dystopian thriller, I thought- “what better way to wind down from a nine-hour shift…” My word how wrong I was.
This film grapples with themes of psychopolitics, radicalisation and fascism- semantics that, unfortunately, feel all too close to home. It explores America’s hypothetical plunge into dictatorship, but in a form that feels unsettlingly unfamiliar.
“Anniversary” offers a distinctive narrative that follows the Taylor family over several years. Displaying the tension, cruelty and tangible tragedy that engulfs the “typical” American family amidst political turmoil.
Komasa harvests the audience’s deepest fears, opening with a sense of comforting coziness before violently thrusting us into our darkest anxieties. A deliberate act of disruption, one that reminds the world just how hastily reality can mutate into a living nightmare.
The film unfolds like a car crash. A cliché, I’m aware, yet unphased by. “Anniversary” is gruesome to watch at times. The performances by the main cast are painfully gritty with each character dealing with societies descension differently. Vulnerability is prevalent throughout, as the Taylor family pridefully, yet ultimately powerlessly, navigate their satanical status quo.
This film, rather surprisingly to myself, has its fair share of critics. Citing a lack of character development due to a rangy ensemble. I believe one of Jan Komasa’s intentions was to chemically create chaos. By presenting a relatively large group of protagonists it enables the exploration of varying reactions, and wider representation of how people deal with extreme adversity. You don’t need to know the characters inside out to sympathise with them. If anything, how little we know about the characters is one of the most striking elements of “Anniversary.” It’s those we know nothing about that are suffering on account of political extremism, right now!
Another critique that’s shouted by many is how “far-fetched” the storyline is. This is alarmingly baffling, and honestly, why films like this exist.
“Anniversary” fulfils the role of exposing societies herd-mentality. This film is a wake-up call, a call to action before collapse. Its relevance cannot be understated in today’s political landscape, in spite of several small plot holes.
I urge anyone who reads this article to watch “Anniversary.” Heart-wrenching acting spliced with an uncomfortable dose of dystopia. An excruciating portrayal of an alternate reality, that whilst fictious is far from a fairy tale.
