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.

Had the privilege of watching this as part of the East European Film Festival (Congrats to the team on winning Best Film!) and it was an incredible film technically all round. To hear from the director's interview in one of the sessions that it was made for under £18K and to achieve this, I was blown away! The performances by the actors are intense, the cinematography is stunning and the music is haunting.

A blockbuster, this is not, but a thinker it is for sure. Come for the paradigm shift, stay for the lesson in great film making!

It was very intense and kept you interested and hooked. Great acting by all, especially Karenina. Would recommend to others. There was loads of emotion and the director really held you in the palm of his hand right the way through. It was thought provoking and touched a nerve.

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.

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.