One of the most intriguing films of the fall is a new genre-bending film from Greek filmmaker Christos Nikou. Nikou started as an assistant director and second unit director on films like Richard Linklater’s “Before Midnight,” and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Dogtooth.” He then made shorts and then graduated to feature-length filmmaking with his acclaimed 2020 film, “Apples,” which Cate Blanchett loved so much she came on as an executive producer. She also produces Nikou’s latest, “Fingernails,” which features the excellent cast of Oscar nominees Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed, plus “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White, Annie Murphy, and Luke Wilson.
The film’s concept is also quite intriguing, perhaps a little “Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind,” in that it melds romance with futuristic sci-fi elements.
The film centers on a world where true love can be “proven” by a controversial new technology. Anna and Ryan (Buckley and White) have found true love. There’s just one problem, as Anna still isn’t sure. Then, she takes a position at a love testing institute and meets Amir (Ahmed).
“Fingernails” premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival earlier this year, and we have an exclusive clip from the film to debut and the director himself to tee it up.
“This is a scene where the main characters of the film, Jessie Buckley and Jeremy Allen White, are meeting with their friends at a dinner,” director Christos Nikou told The Playlist in an exclusive statement. “We are hearing a conversation between them and their friend discussing the test. One couple has done it, and the other does not want to because her partner doesn’t necessarily believe in it. So, with this, we’re introducing to the audience the different dynamics and opinions that couples have on the test.”
“Fingernails” will debut in Los Angeles & New York theaters on October 27, 2023, and will premiere globally on Apple TV+, as well as in additional select theaters on November 3, 2023. Watch the exclusive clip below and the recent trailer, in case you missed it.
