Where Is Anne Frank
Animated feature film written and directed by Ari Folman
With the voices of Emily Carey, Ruby Stokes, Michael Maloney, Skye Bennett
In cinemas
Anne Frank’s story is probably the best known of European Jews in the Nazi Holocaust, because of her famous diary.
She was born in Germany, but her family moved to the Netherlands in 1934 to escape Nazi anti-Semitism and in search of better economic prospects. Unfortunately, they were trapped in the country when the Germans invaded in 1940.
When Nazi oppression of Jews increased in 1942 her father shepherded the family into hiding, which they endured for over two years, until discovered by the Gestapo.
Anne died in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Her father, the only surviving family member, discovered her diary when he returned after the war.
Where Is Anne Frank brings a creative twist to the retelling of the story to make it fresh and contemporary. In it the spirit of Kitty, the imaginary friend to whom Anne addressed her diary entries, comes to life and begins searching for Anne.
The narrative technique allows the film to tell both the story of Anne Frank and to show her legacy in today’s world.
The film achieves greatness by emphasising where Anne Frank’s spirit is to be found today. It is among the refugees suffering exclusion, poverty and oppression by authorities all over Europe.
[The trailer for Where Is Anne Frank can be seen here.]