Fingernails Review: A Gentle, Well-Acted Film That Should’ve Been More Interesting

Fingernails is a gentler movie than one might guess from its premise. In its early moments, it seems poised to take one of two swerves, toward either the dark, skewering absurdism of The Lobster or the quirky, heartfelt surrealism of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Both projects can be felt at times, the latter especially, but director Christos Nikou is interested in a more grounded approach to exploring the lofty concepts of love and relationships. Keeping us close to the film’s talented cast is a decided strength of this, and the performances add nuance to a largely straightforward viewing experience. But it’s hard not to wish Fingernails had grander designs. It shows just enough of its full potential to leave us wanting to see those ideas expressed more fully.