Watching I Anna the first thought that sprang to mind is that we’re all getting older love, aren’t we. Rampling is older in this film. I had not seen her in anything for so long. The release date for I Anna is 2012, twelve years ago. In my mind Rampling and Byrne should have looked much younger.
C’est la vie.
The Story
An older woman, single, likes to attend singles clubs. At the latest one, she meets George Stone (Ralph Brown) and they hit it off. The couple then head back to his apartment. Stone dies and Anna flees the scene. She is seen leaving the building by DCI Bernie Reed. He finds himself attracted to the lady. Reed then “bumps” into her at another singles bash. They hesitantly began a romance of sorts.
Reed is now between solving a murder and his and his growing fondness for this mysterious woman. Anna, when she his not with Bernie, spends her time talking to her daughter Emmy and her granddaughter, or visiting with them.
The Cast
Charlotte Rampling plays the titular role and Gabriel Byrne the detective who attempts to solve a murder. The film’s director, Barnaby Southcombe; son of Charlotte, makes a brilliant first feature length movie. The noirish thriller also stars Hayley Atwell as Emmy and Eddie Marsan is DI Kevin Franks. A few familiar faces turn up in varying degrees of cameos.
Honor Blackman is in a blink and you will miss it scene in the lady’s room. Caroline Catz, a former Doc Martin regular, gets a bit more screen time. London born actor Jodhi May is Janet Stone. She will be a very familiar face to fans of The Witcher and Renegade Nell.
The Twist in the tale
I Anna does have a noir feel from the very first frame. It feels almost “art house” in its delivery. Rampling manages to exude an air of sex, vulnerability, and confusion. Byrne is an American in England and somewhat oddly, he is also a Detective Chief Inspector. It is never explained in the film, but he has to have claimed UK citizenship to work for the police. A little backstory would have been helpful. *It may well be explained in the book written by Elsa Lewin. The film is based on the book.*
The murder of George Stone is told through flashbacks of the event. Anna engages in oral sex with the soon to be murder victim. He gets carried away and it costs him his life.
There is a very clever twist to this tale. I will remain moot about it but suffice to say, it will surprise most viewers. I Anna can be watched on Prime and three other streaming channels. This is really decent noir type thriller. Check out the trailer or just head over and watch the film.
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