Another Year: Example of Us

There are different perspectives on the movie Another Year. To begin with, I’d like to say it is about the lives of normal people, and while their behaviors are ordinary for some, those behaviors can be perceived as negative for others. To give an example, the leading married couple Tom and Gerri can be seen as very kind, understanding, and supportive characters, at the same time they can be seen as smug characters who look down on others.

The couple hosts dinners and advises the people they are surrounded by, especially Mary and Ken who are the ones who need some support from their friends. However, there is a but. This “supports” sometimes feel like they are trying to show how it is easy to find solutions to problems or that making a mistake is something shameful.

But it should not feel like all of us are human and making a mistake is in our nature, because of that Tom and Gerri’s words can be seen as judgmental, which I kind of agree with. Although sometimes I find their comments negative, it is still clear that this couple has a lot of love for each other and their loved ones. From that, we see no character is perfect. Not Tom, not Gerri, or any of the other characters.

As the movie progresses, we witness the distressing developments in their lives, just as we witness in our own lives. While some moments are sad to watch, some others are embarrassing. And the movie, which starts with a hopeful spring, ends with a winter full of experiences.

When I finished and thought about Another Year, the movie sums up exactly what we are going through in real life. There are always ups and downs and this is what makes it admirable. I believe that's why it drew me in, and even though I had a love-hate relationship with the characters, it was very enjoyable to watch. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Editör: Zeynep Berra Şen