The Almond and the Seahorse
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The Almond and the Seahorse
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Almond and the Seahorse is a powerful, touching drama, with some distressing scenes alongside moments of light relief. The film stars Rebel Wilson and Charlotte Gainsbourg and centers on characters who have experienced traumatic brain injuries resulting in different forms of memory loss, and how this changes their daily lives with loved ones over the years. There are scenes of characters in distress, as well as drinking and smoking, kissing, and sexual references. Strong language includes "f--k" and "bitch." Based on a play of the same name, the film portrays one couple as lesbian, which is a change from the original source material, and there is some ethnic diversity among the main doctor and staff at the medical center.
What's the Story?
In THE ALMOND AND THE SEAHORSE, archaeologist Sarah (Rebel Wilson) and architect Toni (Charlotte Gainsbourg) struggle to adjust to changing relationships with their partners. Their respective partners, Joe (Celyn Jones) and Gwen (Trine Dyrholm), are both suffering forms of memory loss due to traumatic brain injury. Sarah and Toni meet at a medical center run by Dr. Falmer (Meera Syal), whose tough love, along with their mutual connection, helps them relearn what they and their partners need.
Is It Any Good?
A powerful adaptation of a widely lauded play, this drama paints a multilayered picture of the experience of two couples dealing with the results of traumatic brain injury and memory loss. The title, The Almond And The Seahorse, refers to the parts of the brain that help make new memories, which is explained in part by Wilson's character as she makes a tape for her husband, hoping that repetition could help form new memories. It's a natural way to incorporate explanation that doesn't feel clunky, and lets the viewer in on some of the inner workings that we might grapple with otherwise.
Both Wilson -- in a rare dramatic role -- and Gainsbourg give strong performances as the partners of people they increasingly struggle to recognize or be recognized by. There's as much depth to their side of the experience as there is to Dyrholm and Jones, who portray widely different struggles, both of which alienate them from the people they love and the world around them. The music is carefully chosen, if a bit on the nose at times, with lyrics like "waiting for my time, hiding in the shadows," feeling a bit glib in a movie that avoids over-sentimentality on the whole. Change takes place without magical solution, because what is the magical solution in situations as complex as these? Instead, the film finds a place of acceptance and empathy -- toward self as much as others -- which feels like just as a powerful a journey.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Gwen and Joe's disabilities were portrayed in The Almond and the Seahorse. Both suffered with memory loss, but how did they experience and cope with it differently?
What do you think the film had to say about the nature of change? What changes took place for the characters during the film?
How did certain characters show compassion and empathy? Why are these such important character strengths to have? What's the difference between the two?
The music was chosen so that the lyrics reflected what the characters were going through in places. How did that affect the experience as a viewer? Did you notice the connection? Can you think of other films that tie musical lyrics into the story?
Talk about the strong language in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 16, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: December 16, 2022
- Cast: Rebel Wilson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Trine Dyrholm
- Directors: Celyn Jones, Tom Stern
- Studio: IFC Films
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Empathy
- Run time: 96 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: December 24, 2022
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