shantiviolin An intense and heartfelt movie, the story of Anita B immediately captures the attention of the viewer. Anita B is the story of a young girl who has just been rescued from the horrors of Auschwitz by the Red Cross. The movie opens showing a Red Cross van driving across the beautiful, but desolate and snowy mountains. Soon the complex and intriguing character Eli appears to escort Anita back to her new home. Anita's new life commences in the house of her only living relative: her aunt, Monika. Having lost both her parents in Auschwitz, Anita struggles to honor her aunt's request to avoid mentioning the horrors she witnessed. We even learn that Anita was loath to leave Auschwitz as her parents had not survived. Anita does not want to forget her parents and thus confides in little baby Roby about her past. The cinematography was beautiful and the story realistic. Through Anita, Eli and Monika, one comes to understand how much the Holocaust affected people's lives. Anita has a clear case of survivor's guilt, but wants to face the past. Eli and Monika are both frustrated with Anita's inability to forget. Both don't want to remember the horrible circumstances in which their loved ones died. In this way, this film shows us how much the past can influence who we are. Because of their experiences, Monika and Eli have turned into somewhat cold and selfish people. Yet this film also shows that they are not inherently like that, but rather are only trying to protect themselves from their own memories. They don't want to show how they really feel. Instead they have built a wall around them and are only trying to ensure their own survival. Monika's husband acts as the middle ground and tries to keep the peace. The romance between Anita and Eli is not simple. Learning later that Eli has his own dark past, the viewer begins to have compassion for him. At times he is kind and protects Anita, but all too often he dismisses Anita's pleas for him to stop his advances. At times he appears to be the heartless villain. At first afraid of Eli, Anita grows to love him and believes he feels the same about her. In the end Anita realizes what she wants and chooses to leave him. The development of Anita is especially captivating. At first a small, weak, lost girl, Anita transforms into a strong young woman, who takes hold of her future. She confronts those who try to stand in her way and demands respect. Despite her troubling past, in the end, Anita is able to move on. The only baggage she has is the future.

cbeatric The film Anita B by Roberto Faenza is a heartwarming, dramatic masterpiece. Shortly after World War II, a young Hungarian woman named Anita leaves the concentration camp where she spent the war. Anita moves in with her aunt Monica, a woman hardened by survivor's guilt, Monica's husband, their son, and Eli, Monica's brother-in-law. While Anita tries hard to remember her past, Monica fights to forget. Anita finds solace in her friendship with Eli, which quickly escalates into an unhealthy relationship. Anita's time in Czechoslovakia is marked by heartache and growth. As Anita finds her identity, we see her confidence soar. Despite the obstacles, Anita fights for what she knows is right and refuses to ever back down.Anita B closely follows Anita's life after her time in Auschwitz. Within the first few minutes of the film, we see the look of despair on the young girl's face, despite her freedom from the concentration camp. We quickly understand that she is orphaned and, much like we will see with her aunt later, experiencing survivor's guilt. Faenza's ability to convey so much in such a small amount of time only begins to show his capacity as a director. Anita's desire to remember the events of her life set up initial conflict between her and her aunt. Monica knew the horrors of the camps, yet ignored them in an effort to suppress her true feelings about recent events.Anita turns to her friendship with Eli in an effort to find an ally. Eli provides Anita with guidance and acts as a buffer between Anita and Monica by defending and protecting her. Eli's feelings toward Anita, however, appear to grow into romantic attraction and his lack of subtlety is evident to viewers. Initially hesitant, Anita feigns sleep and laughs off his advances. While her attraction is noticeable, her insecurities dominate her mind and prevent her from moving forward. Eli is a complex character, and his previous dedication to his fiancé shows that he is capable of the kind of love Anita craves. Despite this capacity, we see Eli turn into a complacent lover. Eli is fully aware of Anita's love for him, yet acts selfishly and emotionally distant. We understand that Eli's past had a profound impact on his character, yet it is hard not to get frustrated by his actions.Anita's story is told against the beautiful background of Czechoslovakia after World War II. We see pride and shame from Jewish characters, the fear of being associated with the Nazis, and the overall degradation of certain groups. Despite living in these conditions, the undertones of strength are evident. Faenza portrays a people not broken, but reevaluating what it means to be Jewish. The hardships portrayed in the film really resonate with the audience and make deep, personal connections with viewers. This beautiful film is surely going to be a hit, and the story is so powerful that it should be retold. It is important not to ignore or forget, but to remember.

mbpotoskie 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.

niutta-enrico 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.