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Too much of everything

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The film, Anita B., directed by Roberto Faenza and based on Edith Bruck's novel, Quanta Stella Cè' Nel Cielo, shares the story of Anita, a young Hungarian Jewish girl who survived Auschwitz. The film follows Anita as she experiences a different type of isolation and confinement in the home of her Aunt Monika, in the Czechoslovakian town of Zvikovez. While Monika, Monika's husband, and her husband's younger brother, Eli, all strive to erase all memories of the past few years from their minds, Anita resolves to never forget anything, particularly memories of her parents, who were killed in front of her at Auschwitz. Anita is also restricted to Monika's apartment for months because she lacks the proper documentation to live in Czechoslovakia. Despite this confinement, Anita proves herself to be both creative and true explorer through the scenes she paints on her baby nephew's walls, journeying, and in the few times that she ventures out of the house. Indeed, Anita spends much time telling stories form her life to her small nephew. However, Anita's sense of self is challenged by her romantic relationship with Eli. Their relationship climaxes when Anita discovers that she is pregnant. Despite Anita's wishes, Eli forces her to go to Prague to have an abortion. However, the doctor in Prague realizes that Anita wants to keep her baby and does not perform the operation and instead gives her his doctor's fee. The doctor's protection and support of her choices seems to ignite Anita's confidence and motivation: she runs away from Eli and searches out a friend in Prague who acts as a 'ferrywoman' for refugees who wish to travel to Palestine. The film ends as Anita travels to Palestine, describing her passage as "a journey to the past with only one piece of baggage: the future".Anita B. is one of the few films that examines the aftermath of the Holocaust, relative to the numerous films that take place during the Holocaust. While watching the threads of the story weave together, one finds oneself entranced by the smallest gestures, micro-expressions, and awkward conversations of the characters. These exceptionally human interactions bring a humble truth to the film. The breathtaking cinematography, thoughtful performance by the actors and actresses, and articulate screenplay pull the viewer into the heart of the story and force the viewer to perform a certain level of introspection. Indeed, the poetic last line of the film not only serves as the realization of Anita's independence and courage as a human being and also as a woman but also speaks to the responsibility the viewer of the film, as a participant of the story. More specifically, the viewer's responsibility as a witness of history; to remember, that as we move into the future, we must not allow the violations of human rights, loss of human life, and oppression of the holocaust to repeat again.

I really loved this movie. I thought it did an excellent job of capturing a time that not a lot of people focus on in cinema. It showed the complexity of emotions that plagued Jewish people in Europe after World War II: the feelings of not wanting to forget the crimes that were committed against them, but also living now in a world where they are persecuted for talking about it or expressing their outrage openly. I thought Anita and Eli's relationship was beautifully portrayed. Eli was not portrayed as a straight up bad guy, he was shown as a complex man with different motives behind his actions. The movie did a wonderful job of not really having a real villain, and depicting the different ways people cared and dealt with their individual and collective tragedies. Aunt Monica lost her brother and sister-in-law in Auschwitz and she deals with it by not talking about it, unlike Anita, who just wants to talk about it in order to cope. Anita was a beautiful symbol of hope, courage, and strength.

"Anita B." tells the uplifting story of a young Jewish girl' s journey of self discovery after surviving the terror of internment camps during Nazi control of Germany. Left with no other family, Anita goes to live with her Aunt in Czechoslovakia where she discovers her aunt wishes that she leave feelings and stories about Auschwitz in the past. Her family is also hesitant to embrace their Jewish culture for fear of repercussions. During the film Anita experiences love and heartbreak but most importantly learns she is more than the number tattooed on her arm.It is easy to forget that the effects of the Holocaust lasted long after World War 2 ended. Roberto Faenza tackles the job of directing a film that allows the audience to contemplate the less addressed issues caused by the holocaust, such as the return home of millions of Jews back into communities that were far from ideal. Anita B's story of recovery is beautifully portrayed.The film also manages to depict various ways the Jewish people cope with their losses and degradation of their culture after the Holocaust. The essence of a recovering society and the struggle of one young girl to thrive in a community torn after the war is highlighted magnificently in this film. The Romance between Eli and Anita shown in the film is far from one dimensional. As Anita's character progresses so does the complication of her and Eli's relationship. The relationship allows us to see the depth of Eli's character. At times we laugh at the young witty Eli who seems to be far from harmful. Other times we hate him and hate how he is treating Anita. We yell at out at her in our minds to leave him already. And there our times still where we simply understand him. We see how the tragic events of his past have affected him and understand why he is the way he is.The acting in this film is another thing that deserves high praise. Eline Powell does a wondrous job portraying Anita. Powell shows incredible character development as Anita is reintegrated into society. The actress's allows the viewer to relate and empathize with the character, we as an audience are able to feel Anita's sense of imprisonment when she is forced to remain within the boundaries of her house, feel her pain when she realizes her love is not pure and feel her hopefulness when she is finally given a chance to start fresh.Overall I highly recommend that you go see this film. Anita B. is a story of romance, a story of loss and a story of survival. It leaves us with an uplifting message to find our own inner strength just as Anita did. The movie pushes us to recognize our ability to determine our own future. It's departing remarks remind us that you and you alone are responsible for accomplishing your dreams.

I will start listing the good things I found in this movie: it transmits the passion that has been put in the making. It deals finely with the most delicate matter of the past Century: the genocide of six million Jews during World War II. It gives hope. On the other hand, however, it shows the (most irritating to me) lack of narrative depth that I so frequently find in modern Italian productions. What kind of audience could find convincing a woman saying to a girl she just met 'the best way to explain to you what love means is playing this melody on the piano'? And people who hurt other people, why would do they do that? We are not given an explanation of their behavior, not a hint. Should we believe that they are just born different from the others, that mankind could be divided into those who keep smiling (the good ones), those who never do (the bad ones) and those who sneer (the deceiving ones)? I hate it when the script requires me a leap of faith to believe the story.I have my own theory: I think Italian cinema has reached an all-time low and people by now are so used to bad films that good Authors (like the present ones) do not feel anymore the need for a really good production, starting from a sound screenplay. I am Italian and I love movies. Nothing could please me more than watching beautiful Italian movies.