Anastasia - The Mystery Of Anna on DVD

Kerrie from Somerset, England , 11/07/2004

When I added this dvd to my list I actually thought it was the cartoon one so was a little suprised when I started to watch it. However it was a really well written, moving and informative film, with an ending that I didnt expect. Worth a watch!

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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otty81 from Devon , 14/10/2004

My greatest complaint about this film is that rather than beginning when the amnesiac Anna is found in Germany, it gives us a sort of prologue where Nicholas II's immediate family are portrayed in an unconvincingly sympathetic way - like the Russian equivalent of the Waltons or something - in the run up to their execution. For this section, Anna is played by a young actress so physically unlike Amy Irving (who plays the adult Anna) that it actually lends weight to the Romanov family's doubts later on!

However, once this section is over with, this turns into a surprisingly enjoyable film. Although it does become slightly melodramatic occasionally.

Anna's struggle to gain acceptance from the surviving Romanovs is especially fascinating, because the world she wants entry to doesn't really exist any more. The Romanovs are wary of unsettling things because they are truly struggling to maintain their royal fantasy in the world post WW1.

The love interest - Eric - is a German prince, but he has accepted his new place in the world (in a post-Kaiser Germany), and has adjusted to limit his spending, cut his staff, and to rent out his country house. This is a step the Russian aristocracy find impossible (remember Chekhov's Cherry Garden?).

The DVD also missed the opportunity for some good extra features - there must be a 'straight' documentary out there somewhere which could have been patched on!

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

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A customer from ashford kent , 03/09/2005

WOODEN ACTING IN THIS ALL ROUND SECOND RATE MOVIE

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A customer from Bristol, England , 20/12/2005

An interesting and moving account. The film is a little bit dated but I didn't think it lost anything for that.

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otty81 from Devon , 14/10/2004

My greatest complaint about this film is that rather than beginning when the amnesiac Anna is found in Germany, it gives us a sort of prologue where Nicholas II's immediate family are portrayed in an unconvincingly sympathetic way - like the Russian equivalent of the Waltons or something - in the run up to their execution. For this section, Anna is played by a young actress so physically unlike Amy Irving (who plays the adult Anna) that it actually lends weight to the Romanov family's doubts later on!

However, once this section is over with, this turns into a surprisingly enjoyable film. Although it does become slightly melodramatic occasionally.

Anna's struggle to gain acceptance from the surviving Romanovs is especially fascinating, because the world she wants entry to doesn't really exist any more. The Romanovs are wary of unsettling things because they are truly struggling to maintain their royal fantasy in the world post WW1.

The love interest - Eric - is a German prince, but he has accepted his new place in the world (in a post-Kaiser Germany), and has adjusted to limit his spending, cut his staff, and to rent out his country house. This is a step the Russian aristocracy find impossible (remember Chekhov's Cherry Garden?).

The DVD also missed the opportunity for some good extra features - there must be a 'straight' documentary out there somewhere which could have been patched on!

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

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A customer from Bristol, England , 20/12/2005

An interesting and moving account. The film is a little bit dated but I didn't think it lost anything for that.

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