Rewind: ‘Anima’ Review
Stars: Thom Yorke, Dajana Roncione, Frida Dam Seidel, Joseba Yerro Izaguirre, Jean Michael Sinisterra Munoz, Takuya Fujisawa | Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
In between feature films Phantom Thread and Licorice Pizza, Paul Thomas Anderson directed a 15-minute musical film that was released on Netflix in June 2019. This accompaniment to Thom Yorke’s titular album opens with a journey through the subway, where many passengers wearing dark-coloured clothes struggle to stay awake before a synchronized dance routine unfolds.
What unfolds is a mind-bending piece focusing on Yorke, escaping the subway setting to depict phenomenal visuals while employing dream logic so effectively. Shadows and lighting are expertly used to paint a visually stunning picture, gorgeously utilizing colour in ways which make the screen pop so vividly.
Also effectively utilized is the physical prowess of the performers, using Charlie Chaplin-style physicality to bring alive this tale about workers who no longer have control over their own bodies. Instead, they are pushed around by an invisible force as though they are toys at the mercy of another being’s whims. Within this tale is an emotionally charged centre about not being able to take back one’s mistakes, bringing alive this beautifully made mood piece to Yorke’s songs.
