Customer Reviews

Anne Frank - There's More To Her Story Than You Ever Imagined [VHS]

5 star:		(138)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As i write this review, this film is just finishing up, and I must say, this is one of the most moving accounts of Anne Frank that I've seen to date. We all know the story of Anne Frank, how it started, and what a complete tragic end of her life; and more importantly, what hope she brought to the world that killed her. This film is a remarkable, incredible retelling of the life of Anne Frank.

The reasons why this film soars, aboslutely soars, are numerous. First, the film tells the complete story, from before the Franks hid in the Annex, until her final days in the concentration camp. Whereas some films tend to linger solely on Anne's days in the Annex, this wider focus gives us the larger picture. Anne's time in captivity is heart wrenching; we have fallen in love with the tempestuous, darling girl and to see her solely fade away is devastating. It serves as a testament both to the millions lost, and the one girl that would write a book to change the world.

Secondly, the performances in this movie are amazing. Ben Kingsley and Brenda Blethyn lend their star-stature names to this project, and turn in performances that are real and dignified. Favorite Lili Taylor, who is one of America's most talented actressses, gives a quiet, powerful performance as Miep Gies. It's Hannah Taylor Gorden, as Anne, brings Anne to life with complexity and grace. Gordon honors Anne in every scene, never deifying the girl, but making her real, human. She even writes the way Anne did, holding the pen as Anne would have held it. That attention to detail does not go unnoticed by those of us who love Anne. It was a perfect match of actress and role.

Third, this film is visually beautiful. Often, you expect a "lower" standard of technical excellence in a television film. Rightfully so, ABC and the director, Robert Dornhelm, give this film a professional style. There are several scenes where you are just in awe, apart from the incredible story.

It was sad for me to learn that this film was not endorsed by the Anne Frank Foundation, because the film was based on a biography not approved by the foundation. Whereas I think its important to have the Foundation so Anne's life can be told in a honest way, they should have seen the film before making a judgment. This movie is a beautiful testament to a beautiful life, and it should be free from any political wranglings like this.

By the final scene, when Miep gives Otto Frank his daughter's diary, and he travels back into the Annex to look at it, my heart was breaking. Anne didn't live to see the effect she'd have on the world, but I think for all of us, we have adopted Anne as our own daughter or sister. She belongs to the world now, and we are responsible to take care of her, to make sure her story is told generation after generation, to honor her life by ensuring nothing like this ever happens in history again.

This is one of the best films that I've ever seen! In some films that are based on a true story, directors twist the plot line around to suit their whims. But in this one, the producers stuck close to the real story, portraying each character and event as they really were. Actual footage from WWII was inserted in certain points of the film, giving it an authentic air. Also, some of the consultants were people who knew the real Frank family, people like Miep Gies (who to my knowledge is still alive in Amsterdam today) and Jacqueline Van Marsen, one of Anne's childhood friends. The actors and actresses acted out their roles superbly, and I was especially impressed with Hannah Taylor Gordon's performance. Not only does she bear a striking resemblence to the real Anne Frank, but she also acts very much like I believe Anne would have acted. I also appreciate the fact that, even though the film's setting is a very harsh time in history, the producers managed to show the brutality of the Nazi occupation without resorting to blood and gore. Anne's story is a sad one, but one worth watching, because it reminds us that the people who died in the holocaust were just normal human beings with hopes and dreams, whose lives were abruptly snuffed out by people who were blinded by racism and extreme nationalism. I would recommend this film for any history buff. It's definitely the best portrayal of Anne Frank on film. Thumbs up for this movie!

In the past year I had been wanting to learn about the story of Anne Frank. I kept passing up the original movie at the video store because I thought it'd be "boring" and that some people said it was too much like your typical Hollywood film.

I didn't care for the original at all and thought the actress who played Anne Frank was miscast to say the least. Not only that, but very annoying. After watching the original movie I bought the book and read it immediately. After finishing it I purchased this movie and was extremely impressed with it. I liked it so much that I immediately loaned it to my mother and she loved it too.

They seemed to keep all the smallest details of the book and the person who played Anne Frank was much better than the actress from the original movie. I believe this was a TV movie, but you can hardly tell. One sign of a good movie is if you think about it weeks and even months later it must be good. It's only been 3 months since I saw this last and I really want to watch it again.

Trust me, get this movie. You'll like it!

I'd also suggest the movie "Anne Frank Remembered".

+++++

At the very end of this movie we are presented with the following words:

"One and a half million children were murdered in the genocide the Nazis called `The Final Solution.' Anne Frank's story is only one of them." (The Nazis' final solution was to exterminate the Jews.)

And what a story it is! The story is well told through this movie.

At the beginning of this movie we are presented with the following words (information in parentheses is my own additional information):

(i) This movie is based on the book by Melissa Muller called "Anne Frank: A Biography" (1998) as well as research and interviews by an independent researcher. (I have not read this book but from what I have read, it is excellently researched.)

(ii) Some scenes can also be found in "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl." Note that the actual words from the diary were not used. (The first diary entry is for mid-June, 1942 and the last one is dated (August 1, 1944). It is also helpful to know that Anne was born June 12, 1929.)

(iii) There are realistic depictions of concentration camp life--including brief nudity.

The actual movie itself can be divided into four parts:

(1) The time before the German-Jewish Anne Frank (Hannah Taylor-Gordon) and her family go into hiding. The movie begins Feb., 1939 in Amsterdam, Holland. Some of this is based on the ten diary entries Anne made before she went into hiding. (This part of the movie lasts about 55 minutes.)

(2) The time the Frank family of four, another family of three, and an elderly dentist went into hiding in the "het achterbuis" which, loosely translated, means "secret annex" of an old three-story building. This part of the movie begins in mid-Nov., 1942 when the elderly dentist joins the two families that have been hiding since early July, 1942. We are also introduced to the four people who aided the hiding group of eight especially a young women named Miep (Lili Taylor). There is also some speculation of exactly who betrayed the hiding group. (Note that this has never been proven.) This part ends with the group of eight being discovered by the Nazis secret police (Gestapo) and being taken away on Aug. 4, 1944. (Lasts for about 75 minutes.)

(3) This part of the movie portrays what happened to Anne after the group was discovered. It ends with the viewer being taken to Amsterdam in 1945, one month after the German surrender. (Lasts about 55 minutes.)

(4) The movie ends with the printed word. In this part we get snippets of important printed information. For example:

"In 1957, Otto Frank [Anne's father, played in the movie by Ben Kingsley] established the Anne Frank Foundation, working to educate young people against intolerance and discrimination."

Another example is the quoted information that begins this review. (Lasts about 3 minutes.)

What makes this movie so powerful is the contrasts we see in each part. Part one presents the free, happy Anne; part two, the hiding, hoping Anne; and part three, the fearful, prisoner Anne.

Note that this movie has not been sanctioned by the Anne Frank Foundation. Personally, I can't understand why because it seems to follow rather closely everything I've read.

The acting in this movie is fantastic. Kudos should go to Hannah Taylor-Gordon who essentially carries the movie as Anne.

The background music adds to each scene and even the cinematography is well done.

If you haven't actually read Anne's diary, I urge you to do so. I recommend the 1993 Bantam edition that not only contains the actual diary but also information that puts Anne's diary in historical context and, as well, has pictures that illuminate the diary.

Finally, the DVD itself is perfect in picture and sound quality. There are no extras.

In conclusion, this is a powerful movie, a worthy companion to Anne Frank's diary!!

(2001; 3 hr, 10 min; made for TV; full screen; 22 scenes)

+++++

I am not a crier. I only cry when something pierces me so hard that it forces the tears out. But even this did not pierce me. It stabbed me. I have been researching the Holocaust since I was nine years old. I have read every book there is on it. Watched so many movies on it. But I always had a feeling for Anne Frank. I read her Diary and all that, watched movies on her, so when I saw that a miniseries was coming on on ABC I was pretty excited. Since we don't get ABC my Grandmother taped it for me. Then the next day my Mom, my cousin and I sat down to watch it. The First part was great for me not a single tear but then came day two. When Anne was wrenched out her "Pim's" arms it was too much. The tears came and didn't stop till the Conventration camp was over. It was the very first time I ever cried during a movie. Hannah Taylor Gordon looked so much like Anne that I had to remind myself that the real Anne was dead. Lili Taylor was awsome as Meip Gies the main helper of the Frank Family. Jessica Blanaly as Margot just makes Anne's character shine even more. I think she deserves way more credit then she got. And all the rest of the Characters shine also. Because of the very Graphic images I don't recomend this movie for anybody under 11. But if you are over I strongly recomend this movie. To help us remember to never let this wretched thing happen again.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to see this movie through SKY Moviemax tv in the United Kingdom.I have seen many versions of the story of Anne Frank,but none that hit me so hard as this one.I was moved to tears,espescially during the final scenes in Bergen Belsen concentration camp when Anne is desperately trying to keep Margot alive,although the situation is absoloutly hopeless.For me the saddest thing is that Anne believed that her father was dead,if only she could have known that he was still alive then she might have found more strength to survive until the liberation which ,unfortunately came too late to save her.My father went into Bergen-Belsen as a Britsh Royal Army Medical Corp just a few weeks after the liberation and he was able to confirm some of the horrors that were found in that camp.For me,this movie provides a very moving tribute to Anne Frank and it is one which nobody should miss.The characters all gave superb,realistic portrayals,espescially Hannah Gordon-Taylor ,who is a very talented young actress and Ben Kingsly was very convincing as Otto Frank.Just one question,will the video be released in The UK?

This movie was simply amazing, it was extremely moving and kept me glued to my seat- not to mention the boy who played Peter is well fit (buff and a spunk). Hannah Taylor Gordon portrayed Anne very well, and each actor chosen would make their characters proud. I loved this film from start to finish as it showed the true story of Anne Frank and the Secret Annex, therefore I would love to get my hands on a copy of the DVD (hint, hint). This is a masterpiece that deserves an oscar in every category (including best actor for the boy who played Peter). All I can say is watch this film and be moved, by the Annex scenes and the final scenes of Anne in the concentration camps. If you watch this film then you will never forget the horror of the holocaust.

At last, this stunning ABC mini series is coming to video! (I am ordering mine as soon as I finish writing this review!).

At last we can see the full story, from before the diary and after, and it's everything we could imagine!

Hannah Taylor-Gordon plays Anne. After a pain-staking casting search, the requirements that the actress should bear a clear resemblance to the real girl and have a solid acting style were clearly found in Gordon. She is truly the epitome of what we envision Anne to be.

Rounding out the cast are Ben Kingsley as Otto Frank, Tatjana Blacher as Edith Frank, Brenda Blethyn as Auguste van Pels and Lili Taylor as Miep Gies.

Filmed on location in Prague, the entire production is flawless and is based on Melissa Muller's book on Anne, not on the actual diary itself.

If you love the story of Anne, you will love this new mini series. Your heart will sing, soar and break.

I have been studying the Holocaust ever since I was in the third grade, mostly because that's about the time that I read Anne Frank's diary. It has always been a very moving story to me. It has inspired me to read volumes about others who were in the same or worse situations. I have seen other movies about her, but this was by far the best portrayal that I have ever seen. Hannah Taylor-Gordon was Anne Frank to me. Every character that was selected to play in this movie was excellent. As to the scenes in the concentration camps, I think it is important to educate people about what happened. Some people say that it is a little much, but you know what, you can't change history. That is how it happened, horrible as it is to watch. Many of the survivors are beginning to die and if people aren't willing to pick up a book and read about it, I think the best way to educate people is to show them. Nothing like that should ever happen again. Never forget.

This film is a beautiful re-telling of the Anne Frank story. What is unique about this film is that it starts before Anne and her family & friends went into hiding in the Secret Annex; it shows her school life and the impending danger from the Nazis. It also takes you past their arrest and removal from their hiding place into the concentration camps and the horrific conditions that led to Anne's ultimate death. You feel as if you get a full picture of her life. The acting was superb, especially Hannah Taylor Gordon as Anne and Ben Kingsley as Otto Frank. This film makes you feel as though you really got to know Anne, which makes the all too familiar ending that much more heartbreaking. I was fortunate enough to have been able to visit The Anne Frank House Museum and the Secret Annex in Amsterdam, and the film really brought me back to that place. This is a beautiful and haunting film, and if you have any interest in Anne, her diary and her story, this is the film to see.