Go into the mind to discover the truth in Anamnesis.

Synopsis

From the YouTube page:

When Adam (Dan Beckner) wakes up in a childhood memory, he figures he must be dreaming. But as his girlfriend, Hannah (Mallory Marie Wedding), leads him deeper into his subconscious, he begins to realize the truth.

Review

I continue my review of Finite Films with the incredible Anamnesis. When I first saw this I was blown away by the carefully-layered story that unwinds itself at what feels like just the right pace of beats while still maintaining an air of mystery that is at the heart of it established at the beginning with the cryptic exchange between Adam and Hannah.

With the principal character of Adam in every scene this may very well be a good example of subjective cinema. We, as the audience are only a few steps behind him in this film. And between Adam and the audience, we’re pulled along on an invisible cord wrapped around our waists, without any foreknowledge of where we’re going. It adds to the mystery.

The use of surrealistic movement from disjointed places is reminiscent of Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It serves as a reminder that when you’re inside someone’s mind the normal rules of logic don’t apply and anything can happen at any moment.

Again, with this and each Finite Film the act of creation is tempered through user-submitted constraints. It’s amazing to see them continue to create new and special films with the added element of what amounts to improvisation in the story.

The word anamnesis has multiple connotations. You can decide for yourself whether it is the philosophical, Christian, or medical meaning in this context. Or it may mean nothing at all for you.

What did you think of Anamnesis? Leave a comment below.

Information

Genre: Drama
Country: United States
Release Year: 2012
Runtime: 21 mins, 59 secs.
Written and Directed by: Alex Calleros
Cast: Dan Beckner, Mallory Marie Wedding, Mary O’Malley, Mikie Beatty, Andrew Makishima

YouTube Channel: finitefilms
Facebook: FiniteFilms
Official Website: Finite-Films.com
Twitter: @finite_films

Director’s Twitter: @Alex_Calleros
Director’s Website: AlexCalleros.com