‘Fingernails’: A Low-key Romantic Drama That Asks Important Questions

We want to believe in true love. Somewhere out there, our person is waiting for us. That does not mean, however, that we will walk into the sunset with them.

In the new movie, Fingernails, Anna (Jessie Buckley) and Ryan (Jeremy Allen White) have been together for a long time. Their future as a couple seems to be set in stone. But Anna is still unsure.

She starts working for a new institute that allows couples to test if their love is enough. Then she meets Amir (Riz Ahmed) and begins to question if she and Ryan are meant to be.

Amir Is Not Just the Token Person of Color

Given the charge for real diversity in Hollywood these days, it would have been easy for Amir to be the token person of color. But he isn’t. He is the leading man, who according to the narrative arc of the genre, will (hopefully) end up with his love interest. When he meets Anna, he has no expectations that they will be anything more than colleagues.

Buckley and Ahmed have natural chemistry. As the story wore on, I began to see that this friendship/work relationship might turn into something more. The challenge is that neither Anna nor Amir are single when they meet for the first time. Both are aware that they have partners who are waiting for them at home.

I Feel For Ryan

In this scenario, it would have been easy to turn Ryan into a mustache-twirling villain who is doing everything he can to prevent the lovers from coming together. He does everything right. He cooks for her, is supportive of her career of choice, and is pretty much what anyone would want in a partner/spouse. But he has no idea that Anna is asking if their partnership is the right one for her.

Without giving too much away, I will say that his response to Anna’s revelations feels right on target. Ryan is hurt and angry, as anyone in his situation would be. He loves and respects her enough to know that he needs to let her go. Anna’s happiness is worth more to Ryan than keeping them together for the sake of his pride.

The Love Triangle Is Not Too Predictable

The love triangle is a standard storyline within the genre. The problem is that in some films/television shows, the tale is too predictable, and the only part the female has is in between her choice of suitor. Though Anna is caught between Ryan and Amir, she has more to do than pick which man she wants to be with. She has her friends, she has her job, and she has a life.

I feel for Buckley’s Anna. She is not the type of person to cheat on Ryan just for shits and giggles. Nor is she playing Amir because she can. There are certain times in our lives when we get to a personal or professional crossroads. We can either stay put because it is comfortable and continue to ask what if. Or, we can take the risk, not knowing what lies ahead.

Fingernails is not the most exciting of romantic dramas. The dilemmas that the characters face are not exactly flashy or full of fireworks. But the underlying narrative is one that anyone can relate to, regardless of the specific situation.

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