About

This screening will be introduced by Victoria Wareham, Australian Cinémathèque.

Anomalisa boldly uses stop-motion animation to explore a searching tale of the human condition.

Jaded inspirational speaker Michael Stone lives a routine existence. Numbed by a misanthropic malaise, his social interactions have become monotonous with each person he meets seeming indistinguishable from the last. That is, until he encounters Lisa. In Michael’s eyes, Lisa is unique, possessing a distinct quality that brings joy and excitement to his otherwise humdrum life. To him, she is an anomaly, an 'Anomalisa'.

Originally written by Charlie Kaufman as an audio play exploring Fregoli syndrome — a psychological condition in which a person believes everyone is the same individual in disguise — the script was later adapted into a screenplay and ultimately realised as a stop-motion animation.

An existential thought experiment on what it means to be human, Anomalisa is a deeply profound meditation on the minute moments that enrich our broader experiences of life. Elegantly expressed through its chosen medium, Anomalisa skilfully uses 3D-printed puppets to mirror the film's central concern: that reflecting on our experiences gives life deeper meaning and fulfillment. The result is an intensely compelling, thought-provoking piece of introspective cinema.

MA15+ | Strong sex scene