Anne Frank (2001) [DVD]

If you are looking for a film which details the horrors and suffering endured during the Holocaust this is one to watch. The film is based upon the Biography of Anne Frank, an Austrian Born jew who is forced to go into hiding with her mother, father, sister, and 4 other people. The film details what life was like before the war for the Jewish family living in Holland, what happened during the occupation and why they were forced into hiding. Unlike other Anne Frank films, this one tells the story from several different angles, including the viewpoint of those who helped the Franks whilst in hiding. The film details who betrayed the family and what happens next after capture, all of which is based upon true evidence.
The film, which is classified as a Cert12 is ideal for those who are studying the Holocaust for History at both KS2 and KS3 as the cert12 rating is not really warranted. Our 7 year old daughter watched the film and was not distraught at what she saw, only saddened that the oppression was allowed to happen. Although the film is very long (over 3 hours) it is split into 2 sections, which make good discussion points for lessons. The film also contains actual news-reel footage from the time of the oppression of the Jews during the war, which ties in nicely with the context of the film and shows the real horrors.
This is one factual story not to be missed. It is moving and thought provoking and provides a very real insight into what life must have been like for those millions of Jews who suffered under the reign of Hitler.
Although this is similar in context to Schindlers List the film is more realistic and thought provoking as it told from the eyes of a 13 year old. A young adult who has only been caught up in the Holocaust because of her religion, when Anne wrote the diary she was an innocent child, and when the diary was publiushed she was a further statistic, just one of the millions who died under Hitlers regime. This is one story of the many who were forced into hiding, but probably the most famous one. Let the memory of Anne Frank live on and do not pass this film by!

Based on Melissa Mullers book on the life of Anne Frank, this film tells the schoolgirls life story, dating from just before the war, to her tragic death in Bergen Belsen concentration camp, only two weeks before the camp was liberated. It is the story of an outwardly ordinary schoolgirl, whose aspirations of womanhood cruelly denied her by the brutal effects of the

dying Nazi regime.

This splendid film shows how the girl used her writing as a means of self expression, and as a fom of escapism, only to be captured by the Nazi's, and spend her last days in a desperate struggle for salvation. The setting of the family attic is broken by the brutal scenes at the concentration camps, culminating in Otto Franks return to Amsterdam after the war, to discover the truth about his two daughters, and to discover Anne's diary.

Ben Kingsley gives a dignified portrayal of Otto Frank, the man who strives throughout to keep his family together. It is this message of family values which shines through the film to the end. Moving, and near the end, harrowing drama. Anne Frank was one of millions of similar victims, but through her writing she is destined to remain forever young.

I first saw this film a couple of years ago on channel 4, at the time I was doing a project for a piece of English coursework on Anne Frank and so I decided to watch it. I'm so glad I did! I really enjoyed this film, it really brought the book to life for me. I thought it was well written and the acting was excellent. The film starts off before the Frank family went into hiding, and so you get an idea of how life was for Anne and how it changed after the Nazi occupation, and how they were forced into hiding. Most of the film is about being in hiding, and the fear of being discovered, living in such close quarters with another family, etc. The last section of the film is about the concentration camps and finally ends with Otto Frank coming home to discover that his wife and daughter's are dead. I think this film is really good and anyone interested in Anne Frank should see it.