Watch ANIMA
- 2019
- 15 min
-
7.6 (13,191)
ANIMA is a film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Thom Yorke of the band Radiohead, and Dajana Roncione alongside Frida Dam Seidel. The movie seeks to tell a romantic story through dance, sound, and visuals, all without any dialogue. This 15-minute short movie is Thom Yorke's first collaboration with the critically acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson. The duo had previously collaborated on the music video for "Daydreaming," a track from Radiohead's ninth studio album, A Moon Shaped Pool.
The movie's opening scene opens with a haunting soundtrack by Thom Yorke, followed by a single shot of commuters laying in their seats on an escalator. The stark black and white cinematography contrasts with the haunting music and captures the viewer's attention. The shot transports one into the world of Yorke's music, where surrealism and symbolism dominate.
The camera then focuses on a man sleeping on a train. The man wakes up to the presence of an elusive woman (Dajana Roncione), whom he follows into a subway station. Here, the narrative shifts from a conscious world into an abstract dream-like state. The film takes on a more surrealistic and experimental approach, with captivating dance sequences that are choreographed beautifully by Damien Jalet.
As the man follows the woman, the two engage in a sequence of surreal dance moves where they float across the train station, running, tumbling, and moving through the station. The dance is a perfect showcase of how dance, music, and visuals can create an ethereal atmosphere and tell a story without the help of any dialogue. They create a dream-like world that is both unsettling and hypnotic, but also beautiful and captivating.
As the film progresses, the enigmatic woman remains a central figure in the film, embodying the central themes of the movie. The woman becomes the embodiment of desire, longing, and mystery. She represents everything the man lost and everything he desires. The film touches on deeper themes like lack of communication, vulnerability, and relationships.
Throughout the movie, Thom Yorke's haunting music provides the backdrop to the dance sequences, and every sound helps to immerse the viewer in the world of the film. The music complements the dance perfectly and adds another layer to the experimental and surrealistic nature of the film. It's a perfect showcase of how sound, music, and visuals can create a rich inner-world for its viewers.
ANIMA is primarily a work of art that creates a surrealistic atmosphere and captures the human experience through dance, sound, and visuals in a way that is unique and spellbinding. It's an experimental piece of work that shows how advancements in technology have unlocked new possibilities in the world of cinema, and it's a testament to the power of sound and visual storytelling.
ANIMA is a fantastic short film that pushes boundaries, captivates the viewer, and acts as a canvas for Thom Yorke and Paul Thomas Anderson to showcase their visionary talents, creating an unforgettable experience for the viewer. It is a must-watch for fans of avant-garde cinema and experimental storytelling.
ANIMA is a 2019 music movie with a runtime of 15 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.