Trauma and Secrets
At first, the characters seem like a group of normal strangers just house-hunting until the hostage situation brings out the truths. The presence of the robber barely elicits the right response from the strangers but something much more significant happens in their midst. Gradually the characters reveal their past traumas and secrets that hold them back from fully embracing their present or future. For instance, Zara the bank manager has been incapable of finding closure after a man commits suicide due to financial troubles. Before committing the act Zara had denied his loan request, which she attributes to his decision to jump off the bridge. In one way or another, the same applies to the other hostages as they confront their issues and bare their souls to the strangers.
Redemption and Forgiveness
The apparent theme is that everyone has their side of the story and they deserve an opportunity to redeem themselves. The perfect example is the robber and even though the initial crime never took place, the chain of events incriminates her. It is revealed that her husband’s infidelity left her without a home or financial means and intended to rob to cover rent. Even Jim offers a helping hand by aiding her to hide in order to stall until she can make a clean escape. The thin line between anxiety and idiocy is displayed by most of the characters as their actions are borderline imprudent yet understandable. As such, the narrative allows the characters to recognize their flaws and make the decision to forgive or improve. They somehow find comradeship in the short time as hostages and act as each other’s pillar of support.
Hope and Dreams
Though each character seems to have reached an impasse in their lives, they are not devoid of hopes and dreams. As the title suggests, they are anxious people, they harbor anxieties about their past failures or the uncertainties of the future. Including the hectic afternoon, they have endured hard times and it is at this juncture that hope is found once more. Case in point, the robber had lacked all options apart from a bank heist to solve her current financial situation. In the end, the same people she held hostage give her hope and offer to collaborate towards ensuring her freedom.
