Some movies start off light and cool, and you think you have them all figured out only for the ending to catch you off guard and the message stays with you long after the credits roll. One of such films is Anniversary (2025).
As always, I checked the cast list before watching. Seeing familiar actors like Phoebe Dynevor, Diane Lane, Dylan O'Brien and Zoey Deutch put my mind at ease. Surely, this film should be good, or great even, depending on the plot and their acting. No! It's impressive and explosive.
We are introduced to the Taylors at their anniversary party. It's Ellen and Paul's 25th wedding anniversary and all their children and friends are present. Ellen (played by Diane Lane) is a professor at Georgetown university and also a public intellectual who participates in debates on live TV. Paul (played by Kyle Chandler) is a popular restaurateur.
This couple have four children: Josh (played by Dylan O’Brien) is a budding writer whose first work was rejected by publishers and ever since, he wants to please his mother, Cynthia (played by Zoey Deutch) is an environmental lawyer who handles ‘shitty’ cases with her husband, Anna (played by Madeleine Brewer) is a popular comedian and the youngest, Birdie (played by Mckenna Grace) is a quiet, science nerd.
At this party, Josh shows up with his poised girlfriend, Liz (played by Phoebe Dynevor). His sisters are curious about her but Ellen becomes wary when she remembers that Liz was a former student who sparked radical and anti-democratic debates in class. As the children leave after the party, Liz presents Ellen with a gift, her newly published book—The Change: A New Social Compact.
Two years later, Liz is popular, married to Josh and pregnant with twins. Her book becomes a bestseller and quickly ignites a radical movement called ‘The Change’ that spreads through the society like wildfire. The national flag is redesigned and an authoritarian rule takes over. Violence and chao follows. People who are not in support of the change are quickly silenced or harrassed.
In the face of these drastic changes that turns a sunny family and society into a dystopian one, how will the Taylors navigate these troubled waters?
Review
I did point out earlier that this film took me by surprise and felt explosive. The plot is brilliant, a contemporary one that speaks to most democratic countries about testing the waters politically. The director, Jan Komasa, takes his audience through the experience of living in an authoritarian society.
The storytelling is well-paced and smooth. Without beating around the bush, we meet a family who grows and experiences ‘change’ within a five year span. They start out as a close knit family with progressive views and in no time, break apart due to radical influence. I'll say that's a bold message by Jan Komasa. However, this review is not about his intentions towards the movie but how well this plot was executed.
You might think at first that it's simply about an anniversary celebration, but it's much more. Deeper than the comforts of love and family, it digs further into the society and government. We see the effect of ‘the change’ on this family and their reactions to it.
The cast ensemble is cool in my opinion and they all embody their characters very well. Phoebe Dynevor and Dylan O'Brien are convincing enough as the villains of the movie.
One thing stands out for me in this film—the theme of identity which I find lends more weight to the plot. Ellen and Paul are progressives, and their daughters appear to be too. Their only son, Josh, due to rejection and parental issues, leans where the wind blows—in this case, his wife's radical, anti-democratic views. I think their identities inevitably led to their end. Whether or not it's acceptable, depends on the audience.
The cinematography is impressive, nothing out of the ordinary.
Overall, I enjoyed Anniversary (2025). It's brilliant, well-paced and beautifully told. The acting is impressive too. The plot and underlying messages call for some reflection. Some characters experience a change of heart at a point in the movie, revealing that even the most complex individual can struggle to accept their choices when faced with the consequences.
I'd rate this movie 4 stars out of 5.
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Thumbnail Image, Fair Use
Other images are screenshots from the movie