Outline:
A New Kind of Domestic Drama
In the annual chaos that is awards season, it’s not unusual for smaller, more modest films to be overlooked. With a multitude of late-year releases vying for attention, the competition for both industry For-Your-Consideration (FYC) attention and public recognition becomes fierce. By the time the “qualifying runs”— the practice of letting a movie play in a small theater for one week to qualify for Oscar consideration — start, many films are left behind.
However, there was a film that caught some attention this past October: Anniversary. This family drama centers on Paul and Ellen Taylor, a couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Paul is a successful restaurant owner in Baltimore, while Ellen is a college professor at Georgetown. They have four children, a great house, and a life firmly rooted in the upper-middle-class.
Their son, Josh, brings home a new girlfriend named Elizabeth, who immediately seems out of place. Her presence causes tension at the celebration, and the trailer ends with a mirror image of the opening shot, suggesting a meta narrative.
The cast includes recognizable faces like Diane Lane and Kyle Chandler, as well as medium-recognizable actors such as Dylan O’Brien and Zooey Deutch. Phoebe Dynevor, known for Fair Play, plays Elizabeth, while McKenna Grace, Madeline Brewer, and Daryl McCormack round out the supporting cast. The vibe is reminiscent of a Lifetime Channel drama, but the promo suggests a familiar type of film that might be missed during lazy Sunday afternoons.
A Dystopian Political Thriller
Lionsgate pitched Anniversary as a handwringing domestic melodrama, but it’s more akin to The Handmaid’s Tale in a country that feels uncomfortably close to our own. Directed by Polish director Jan Komasa, known for Corpus Christi, and written by Lori Rosene-Gambino, the film is a dystopian political thriller where a MAGA-like movement underwrites corporate authoritarianism.
The story begins with a wedding anniversary and ends with people being led away with bags on their heads. The Taylors appear to be from those Christmas cards, with Paul dad-dancing to Crowded House and Ellen owning multiple Lululemon outfits. Their daughters range from an edgy comedian to a lawyer married to a legal eagle, and the youngest, Birdie, is a science savant. Josh, the only son, is a failed writer, and his new girlfriend, Elizabeth, is also a writer.
Elizabeth’s book, The Change: The New Social Contract, becomes the foundation for a populist movement. A mysterious corporation, the Cumberland Company, promotes far-right ideology, normalizing it enough to gain power. At Thanksgiving, the family debates the impact of Elizabeth’s book, with Ellen calling what’s coming a dictatorship.
Metaphors and Misdirection
There are several stand-out moments in Anniversary, including a metaphor involving a petri dish experiment. The film slowly details how totalitarianism chips away at daily life, liberties, and the pursuit of happiness. While some reviewers criticized the vagueness of the “Change,” the details we do get are significant. Dissenters are labeled enemies of the state, people disappear, internet bandwidth is rationed, and curfews are mandated.
The film ends in tragedy, capturing the doomscroll dread that defines daily life for many. Lionsgate, the company behind the film, may have buried the lede in promotional material, but the question remains: Did they try to bury the film itself?
A Film in Hiding
Filmed in Dublin in the summer of 2023, Anniversary faced challenges due to the political climate. After Trump’s election, the company hesitated to release it, unsure of how to market a non-I.P. political film. The murder of Charlie Kirk made it even more radioactive.
Despite a premiere and a release in 800 theaters, the film received little marketing. It was given a theatrical run to eventually end up on Hulu, but as of now, it’s not available there. However, it can be rented on Apple, YouTube, Amazon, and GooglePlay.
Final Thoughts
Anniversary is still somewhat hidden by those responsible for getting it in front of viewers. But it’s hidden in plain sight, and now that you know it’s there, you’re encouraged to seek it out while you still have the opportunity.