Harry Potter Looms Large for Ronan Day-Lewis

Ronan Day-Lewis’s debut film, Anemone, is a dark, emotional journey into generational trauma. It also just happens to star his father, Daniel Day-Lewis, in the venerated actor’s first film in eight years. How did Day-Lewis the younger go from scampering around sets to running a production of his own? Here are some key moviegoing moments from the director’s early days.

First movie you saw in theaters?

I think the first movie I ever saw was Finding Nemo, though I might have seen The Incredibles before that-I’m not entirely sure which. I watched Finding Nemo again not long ago, and it really is a fantastic film.

First movie you bought?

Either the first or the second Harry Potter film.

First favorite movie?

I first saw Whale Rider when I was about 5 years old, and it really stuck with me. I was completely captivated by it for a long time. I found its mythical elements particularly appealing, and I’ve always been drawn to the ocean – I’d also watched a lot of Blue Planet. Plus, the acting by [Keisha Castle-Hughes] is incredible. The film has a really mysterious atmosphere. And then, of course, My Neighbor Totoro was another film that had a huge impact on me.

First favorite actor?

Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter.

First movie crush?

The main character from Spirited Away — Chihiro.

First movie that made you cry?

I’m not sure if it actually made me cry, but I watched Ken Loach’s Kes at a young age, and it really affected me deeply. It was the first time I recall feeling so sad while watching a film.

First favorite director?

Paul Thomas Anderson is a director I really love. I think Punch-Drunk Love was the first film of his I ever saw, and after that, I started watching his earlier work – I basically worked my way backwards through his filmography from there. It was a great discovery!

First movie set you visited?

My parents created a film called The Ballad of Jack and Rose. They filmed it on Prince Edward Island, which is off the Canadian coast. I was probably around 5 years old then. I distinctly remember them building a set – a house that was partially underground, with grass growing on top of the roof. It looked like a strange, almost unreal vision.

First book about movies you read?

I came across a book on making films yourself – I’ve forgotten the title – and it was full of practical advice. It explained things like how to mount your camera on a skateboard, or similar, to achieve a smooth tracking shot and other techniques.

First film score that made an impression on you?

The music in Pan’s Labyrinth is incredibly memorable and atmospheric. Both that film and Rosemary’s Baby really resonated with me-and, interestingly, their scores have a similar feel. I often wonder if the creators of Pan’s Labyrinth were inspired by Rosemary’s Baby when composing the lullaby.

First memorable needle drop?

“Be My Baby” in Mean Streets is a pretty epic one.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=TBVC6Y2dftU

First shot from a film that stuck with you?

It’s not one of my earliest memories, but a specific shot really impressed me-one we actually borrowed for Anemone. It’s in Andrei Tarkovsky’s The Mirror, and it features wind blowing through a field of grass in an open space. I was completely blown away by how visually rich it was.

First movie of your dad’s that you saw?

It was either My Left Foot or The Last of the Mohicans. The oddest thing about seeing him act for the first time was running into him afterwards, just in everyday life. I’d become so accustomed to seeing him as his character, and then suddenly he was just my dad. It feels really strange. There’s a disconnect – it’s him, but also not him – and I almost have to pretend I don’t know him so well.

First time you became aware of your dad’s legacy?

I first became aware of it through some kids at school when I was about 7 years old. Their parents would show them The Last of the Mohicans, and that’s what sparked their conversations with me. I’d been on movie sets before, but honestly, I didn’t really understand what was happening at the time.

The first video camera you bought?

I had a small Sony camera – it had a hand strap and a little screen that would swing out. I think I was around 13 or 14 years old. I used it to film a zombie movie in my friend’s basement. I was really into horror movies at the time, and I saw a film on Netflix called Zombie Girl. It was about a girl who made a full-length zombie movie in her hometown, and it really inspired me. We’d made a few short films before that, using my friend’s dad’s camera.

First time you thought about directing a feature-length film?

It was around eighth grade when I met my film teacher, Michael Domenica. He didn’t just teach about films; he gave us projects where we created our own short films. I began writing my first full-length screenplay at 15, and things really took off from there.

First scene you wrote for Anemone?

This scene shows us Ray, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, in the forest. The camera moves smoothly through the trees, and then we see him chopping at roots in an open space.

Last movie you bought?

I don’t recall exactly, but it was likely something Ben Fordesman-the cinematographer for Anemone-and I were using as visual inspiration. We referenced Autumn Sonata. We also studied the third Harry Potter movie. We looked at Knife in the Water too, as much of it happens in a very small space with just a few characters. We were trying to figure out how to frame people in a way that felt cramped and claustrophobic.

Last notable film discovery?

I only recently watched Morvern Callar, and it really sparked my interest in Lynne Ramsay and her work.

Last movie you saw in theaters?

I’ve seen a few things since then, but I keep going back to thinking about The Brutalist. I’ve been really focused on finishing Anemone, so I haven’t been to many movies in the theater lately. However, I did get to see The Brutalist on the big screen, and it was a fantastic experience.

2025-10-03 04:55