Absurd And Interesting—Review Of Fingernails (2023)

Amir reveals he's in a relationship with Natasha but Anna finds out later that it isn't true. Working together day by day, Amir and Anna begin to fall in love with each other, resulting in Anna questioning her relationship with Ryan. Is this machine right in determining love compatibility? Will Anna go with the machine's result or her feelings?

Review

I don't mind psychological thrillers and mysteries; I actually love them. They keep my brain engaged and spur my mind to decipher the plot but this film left me disoriented after I'd seen it. Fingernails is like a bizarre twist in some strange alternate universe where the people there try very hard to grasp the complexities of a love relationship. I have no idea what the writer and director intended when they came up with this project but they sent my mind spinning in different directions.

The plot of this film is an interesting one but quite absurd in my opinion. To determine if that true love exists between a couple, they are required to remove their fingernails, it's placed into a machine like a microwave and after a few minutes, the machine states the percentage of love! If that is not absurd, I don't know what is. Yet, I find the film interesting and kind of satisfying because some issues in relationships that people take for granted are put to the test with this strange concept.

I imagine if we lived in this kind of world, a lot of romantic relationships would be destroyed because the machine would likely give a result contrary to what people feel. It calls to question: can a machine determine the feelings between two people? Or maybe the machine reads the compatibility in the blood/DNA of the couple through the fingernails?

Regardless of this brain-racking concept, I enjoyed the storytelling. The portrayal of emotions between the characters, the doubts and the need to affirm love was well executed. The performance of the cast was outstanding. I enjoyed Jessie Buckley's acting. She embodied a character who was willing to overlook the result of the machine and pursue her heart.

Jeremy Allen White did great as the long-time partner who turned complacent based on the positive result given by the machine. He gave the vibe of being stagnant but in reality, every relationship should be dynamic and evolving. So the decision of Anna in the film is understandable.

There were heartfelt scenes that felt realistic, while some were ludicrous and amusing. The cinematography is great, especially the scenes focused on the Love Institute. It's portrayed as a sterile, clinical atmosphere in contrast to the emotions of the couples who visit the place for tests.

Overall, Fingernails is a fine film that explores the multifaceted nature of love and the desperation to seek its validation. It's thought-provoking in my opinion and worth watching, even if it's just once. I'll give it 3 stars out of 5.

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^{Other images are screenshots from the movie}