Anonymous

Well shot and lit film, amazing to hear it was made on a tight budget in a week during lockdown. Interweaving character stories around the topic of addiction are well cast and acted. Mysterious protagonist leads us through the sensitive material.

From the opening sequence Anonymous shows thats it is not a film that allows you to sit back and be entertained at break-neck speed, but rather a work that requires your attention and engagement.

Anonymous deals with tough issues in a way that is neither judgemental nor sentimental. Instead, it shows us as we all are at times; frail.

To say it was made on a shoestring is an understatement. And how it was made in a couple of weeks in the lockdown shows a steely determination from all involved. An intriuging atmosphere is slowly built up and its the portayal of flawed but real characters, within a minimal setting that allows the story to unfold slowly and purposefully. With the Man, was there a nod to Albert Camus' La Peste (The Plague)?

Winner of the 2021 The East Europe International Film Festival.

90mins in real time with the most amazing of characters. I was transfixed the whole time and felt such empathy with each one of them by the end! I won't forget this film quickly and it has caused me to reflect on addiction in a new way.

This is a grisly subject and so a film dealing with will be grisly. Not for Christmas fun, but essential viewing for anyone who may know someone with addiction and wish to understand them.

This is not the place to be judgemental, as we see this could easily happen (maybe is happening) to any one of us. We're shown pleasant characters who have a demon, even when we see this demon we see it's engrained further into these people than we imagined.

The 'silent protagonist' as a metaphor for the silent, attractive, feeling of 'right' that is addiction is genius and powerfully portrayed.

An uncomfortable viewing, but essential nonethless (how many continue to watch Seaspiracy etc!) It's something about which we all benefit from being better informed.

At a time when lots of people are struggling with their drinking, Anonymous paints a fairly accurate depiction of a 12 step meeting where the characters are able reveal their inner struggles and traumas that have led them to addiction. With some powerful and skilful performances and acutely observed script writing, the film shows that with acceptance and group strength there is hope in recovery by sharing.