"Ronan Day-Lewis's debut film, Anemone, is a dark, emotional journey into generational trauma. It also just happens to star his father, Daniel Day-Lewis, in the venerated actor's first film in eight years. How did Day-Lewis the younger go from scampering around sets to running a production of his own? Here are some key moviegoing moments from the director's early days. First movie you saw in theaters?"
"First favorite movie?I watched Whale Rider when I was around 5, and that made a big impression on me. I became obsessed with it for a while. There was a mythic aspect to it, and I was fascinated by the ocean. I had watched a lot of Blue Planet. And the performance by the main actress [Keisha Castle-Hughes] is amazing. There's a sense of mystery throughout. And then, of course, My Neighbor Totoro was another big one."
"First film score that made an impression on you?The score for Pan's Labyrinth is so haunting. That and Rosemary's Baby were huge for me - and they're similar scores in a way. I wonder if they were thinking about Rosemary's Baby when they were figuring out the lullaby in Pan's Labyrinth. First shot from a film that stuck with you?This isn't a particularly early memory, but a shot that amazed me - and that we kind of ripped off in Anemone -"
Ronan Day-Lewis directed Anemone as a dark, emotional exploration of generational trauma and cast his father, Daniel Day-Lewis, in the actor's first film role in eight years. Early cinematic experiences shaped the director's tastes, including childhood screenings of Finding Nemo and The Incredibles, a deep impression from Whale Rider, and a fondness for My Neighbor Totoro. A DIY filmmaking book influenced practical technique. Haunting scores such as Pan's Labyrinth and Rosemary's Baby resonated strongly, and a Tarkovsky shot of wind through grass inspired a visual choice in Anemone. These formative moments informed the film's aesthetic and emotional approach.
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