The world inhabiting director and writer Christos Nikou’s follow-up to his Greek film Apples (2020) is one that looks a lot like our own. Sure, technology has advanced further, providing an objective scale to determine if any two people are right for each other. And admittedly, there’s more absurdist humor than we might see in everyday life, creeping along the edges of each scene. It might seem far-fetched to some. But really, Fingernails is simply all about love and the universally complicated paths all humans take to find it.

For elementary school teacher Anna (Jessie Buckley), life is going quite perfectly — at least, that’s what she wants to think. She seems committed to her relationship with Ryan (Jeremy Allen White) and content with their love. After all, they’ve taken and scored positively on the Love Institute test that an overwhelming majority of partners have failed, so they must truly be in love. Right?

But Anna can’t shake the feeling that things aren’t quite right. As she takes on a secret new job at the laboratory that administers the test, she meets coworker Amir (Riz Ahmed), leading her to question the true meaning of love herself.

The only thing seemingly more questioned throughout the history of cinema than the meaning of life is the meaning and nurturing of love. Nikou’s second feature-length film is yet another addition to this ever-growing collection. Better yet, it’s clear that he has something insightful to say with one of the most original and thought-provoking concepts of the year: a patient, flawed, yet intriguing mix that falls somewhere in between Black Mirror (2011—present) and Dogtooth (2009).

There’s an appeal in trying to prove an exact science to love. The uncertainty that many people face in the world about marrying the right person and the fear of making the wrong choice could be alleviated in a matter of seconds. Yes or no, that’s it (just a fingernail or two gone). As you’d expect from a visionary director like Nikou, things aren’t quite that simple in a world filled with feelings as complicated as love and affection. Because what happens when a couple unexpectedly falls for each other in a way that only the two of them can understand?

That brings us to the relationship that develops between Anna and Amir, creating an emotionally complicated situation for Anna to grapple with. The idea of being with someone other than Ryan challenges her worldview altogether, forcing her to look past society’s defined (and constraining) view of what it means to love someone and be loved.

Buckley is terrific and gives one of her strongest performances to date, bringing emotional authenticity and honesty to every second. What makes Anna an especially compelling protagonist is her curiosity in taking on an entirely new profession and her doubts as she constantly shoves her feelings down until she can’t anymore. Buckley brings all of these relatable qualities to life in a way that makes it virtually impossible not to connect with her character. Ahmed and Allen White are also great additions to the cast, but this is truly Buckley’s show.

As the main thesis of Nikou’s story develops, it becomes quite evident that as much as we’d like it to, love is something that can never be fully understood. People grow together, grow apart, and perhaps grow together again without any real explanation or cause. People who may seem like the unhappiest couple in the world could turn out to be just right for each other. Love can feel lonelier than being alone, as Anna herself states at one point. None of it makes sense, yet it happens anyway. And it happens to so many of us. That’s the beauty of the story that Nikou tells here.

The point becomes increasingly clear, to the extent that Nikou can’t help but circle around it multiple times. Yes, love is messy, but what more can be said about it that hasn’t been stated for the past hour? The fascinating concept burns out a bit by the third act, with the final stretch feeling tiresome as we wait for the inevitable outcome. Instead of taking the story and concept further, Nikou seems content with leaving his cards on the table.

While the ending takes the film down a notch, Fingernails still remains a challenging and mostly rewarding experience for those interested in its critique of societal norms surrounding love. Perhaps stay away if you’re squeamish surrounding nails, but the ideas on Nikou’s mind linger long after the credits roll: that’s for sure.

Review Courtesy of Matt Minton

Feature Image credit to Apple Studios via Deadline