In a way, the film has elements of horror, but it’s real-life horror marked by banality and repetition. When they wake each day, Joe and Gwen must come to terms with their displacement in time. Gwen is shocked, looking in the mirror to find she’s aged more than a decade overnight from her point of view. Then, of course, she realizes she’s no longer pregnant. Every day brings the same trauma.
There’s a real question surfaced here about which partner in each couple suffers more. Of course, the absolute devastation of losing one’s memory is beyond understanding. Still, there’s a twisted mercy to it in that one would not have the repetitive stress of dealing with the long-term knowledge of the loss. Toni and Sarah are dealing with the sorrow of the loss of their partners as they knew them, as well as taking on the daily grind of managing their own lives while caring for their injured partner. They must endure the daily stress in the near term, also knowing the situation will only become more dire over time. Who among us is adaptable enough to make something good out of this life?
“…strives for an emotional depth the filmmakers do not thoroughly achieve…”
The power of this film lies primarily in the heartfelt, wonderful performances. This is Wilson’s first non-comedic role, and she plays Sarah with authenticity. She has generally been cast in roles where the character is an object of ridicule. It’s satisfying to see her deliver a performance so well as a real person with real problems. She should seek more roles like this one.
Gainsbourg, aside from being the daughter of the infamous late French artist/bad boy Serge Gainsbourg, is usually thought of for avante-garde transgressive films such as Lars Von Trier’s Nymphomaniac. Her character in The Almond and the Seahorse displays none of those provocative modes. Toni is a caring, compassionate woman and long-suffering caregiver to Gwen.
Dyrholm and Jones play the TBI patients respectfully and powerfully. They never resort to caricature or spectacle. They give us Gwen and Joe in a way that allows us to sympathize with them but also to feel the frustration of their partners who feel trapped with someone they did not choose. The guilt and anguish is palpable. A new life must be cobbled from the changes no one could anticipate. The Almond and the Seahorse is filled with sadness and pain, but there are moments of sunlight and happiness, which is ultimately the most anyone can ask for in this life.
"…Toni and Sarah strike up a friendship based on their own shared trauma"
