Anemone is a largely meditative film, with few characters and a tragic emotional arc. With Ray living in isolation for years, a lot of the film is built on Jem's curiosity, Nessa's somber acceptance, and Brian's anger over this decision to leave his family. The reason Ray left is heartbreaking, and pays off the film's themes and imagery.
Why Ray Has Been Alone For So Long
Daniel Day-Lewis in Anemone
Ray's isolation in Anemone was caused by his own pain and regret, with the trauma of his actions during the Troubles in Ireland eventually pushing him to the fringes of society. For much of Anemone, it's unclear exactly why Ray abandoned his wife, Nessa, and their son Brian.
Ray antagonizes and bonds with his brother Jem in equal measure when he comes looking for him, hoping Ray can come meet his son to to fix up his act after he brutally beats down another young man. For much of the film, Ray ignores Jem's outreach and refuses to read the letter Nessa sent, imploring him to come back.
Investigating the ruins of the building, Ray found the apprentice on the verge of death. Reasoning the young man was mortally wounded and had no chance of being evacuated to a hospital in time to save him, Ray shot him to end his suffering. However, as he was unarmed at the time, this is considered a war crime.
Ray was left incredibly shaken by the experience, which was only exacerbated when his commanding officers attempted to help him push the incident under the rug. Ray departed society, seemingly having lost faith in humanity. Notably, Ray reveals that as time goes on, he can't remember his exact motivation for killing the apprentice.
As he tearfully explains, Ray remembers looking at the dying teenager and meeting his hateful gaze. However, he can't specifically remember his emotional state at the time. It seems that in his guilt, Ray cannot remember whether he shot the young man out of pity, necessity, cruelty, or just because. This haunts Ray and has pushed him away from other people.
What The Hail Storm Is Really About
The night after Ray opens up to Jem about this internal turmoil within him, a truly massive hailstorm breaks out. This hail storm, subtly teased earlier in the film through hints about an incoming winter storm, represents the overwhelming challenges that can suddenly crush people.
Massive blocks of hail that fall in the storm crash into the nearby town, leaving local residents like Nessa and Brian to look on in awe at the scope of it. Following Ray's discovery of a mysterious creature seemingly made of water (itself seemingly a metaphor for the natural world of solitude that he's made for himself), he attacks Jem.
Before Jem can leave, the hailstorm picks up and forces the two men to take shelter in Ray's home. It's a sudden moment that washes away the conflict that had exploded between them. This connection to the mysterious watery beast is seemingly confirmed when, the next morning, Ray finds a massive fish floating downstream after being killed in the storm.
This suggests that the meaning of the storm is to reinforce the importance of connections. Ray may have found beauty alone in the wilderness, removed from the humanity that set off a conflict he lost his humanity to. However, without it, he would one day just be like the fish in the river.
For all his strength and independence, Ray would just be another body floating along. He would be nothing more than a dead monster, his humanity ignored by a town and a family that no longer knows him. It's an emotionally weighty moment, and sets up Ray to acquiesce to Jem's request and come back home with him to meet Brian.
The Real Meaning Of Anemone
Anemone is a painfully character-driven story that highlights how human connection is crucial to survival. Brian is increasingly furious with the lack of connection he has with his father, even as he gets into fights defending him. His friend Hattie reaches out to him, producing one of Brian's only genuine empathetic moments in the film.
Nessa may be heartbroken, but she continues to hold hope he may someday come meet their son. She's also surrounded by others when the hailstorm hits, sad but enduring. Jem's faith in God is a big part of his character, especially how it impacts his interactions with someone like the profane Ray. However, Jem never gives up hope for him.
For Ray, the emotional arc of the film is coming to recognize that his humanity hasn't been abandoned by him. He may have committed a terrible act that pushed him onto the borders of society, but he is still haunted by the memory because he's still painfully human. This realization is what leads him to finally meet with Brian.
While their first conversation is not shown, it's notably a moment of vulnerability from Ray when he sees Brian. He is calm in a way he hadn't seemed before, almost at peace, seeing a new young man. It's no coincidence Brian is around the age of the teenager Ray killed and that he is also looking at potential military service.
In many ways, Brian is on the path to becoming like Ray. Ray's return promises at least a chance at reinforcing both of their humanity. While audiences might not be privy to where it goes from here, Anemone is about the undeniable humanity that lives on, even in the aftermath of trauma, abandonment, and grief.
