anone (2018)

The synopsis , although not exactly inaccurate, doesn't do justice to Anone and probably isn't the most enticing thing ever. However, any possible advantage from correcting it is (in my opinion) inferior to the pleasure of figuring things out on your own, guessing how will the plot flow, how are all those people connected and what makes their wheels spinning. Long story short: Anone is so much more than two women of different age finding each other and healing their wounds. It weaves an intricate network of people crossing paths and trying to achieve their goals (or just living their ordinary lives). It is a drama about people and living in a society, which may sound banal on paper, but never is. It's about a warmth and comfort of a makeshift family (nothing short of a miracle), brutally contrasted with inhuman coldness, lack of regard for others, narrowness of horizons forced on the weakest and most impressionable ones and scarring them for life. You will see 'villains' more bloodcurdling than the most grotesque psychokillers populating your usual crime shows, but they will be completely commonday and manipulating people with little tidbits they have on their loved ones. Not that it strictly divides characters on good and bad, at least not those that stay longer.
It's about dreams, too (another banality on paper). And counterfeiting money. The better part of the plot could belong to an action movie, but the drama approaches it in a casual, slice-of-lifey manner. One arc turns very brothers Coen.
It's fun! In a quirky, gloomy way, with plenty of situational and visual humour stuffed in between tender moments. Beautifully written and directed, playing with conventions, often showing-not-telling and fully using the potential of each episode being a complete entity that can tell a story from a certain point. Highly recommended.

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