User reviews

No. It didn't simply have potential. It could be the absolute masterpiece, unprecedented, unparalleled and unsurpassed. The background is perfect. Where can you find such a turmoil in the last 20 years, if not in the Soviet Union/Russia? Maybe only in Yugoslavia (that's why Kusturica made the incredible movie Underground). Even the idea of asking your daughter the very same questions every year is excellent. What then spoils it? a) (and most important) Mikhalkov's narrative. Too long, too boring, too predictable b) Too much footage, irrelevant with the flow of the story (especially from other Mikhalkov's films!) c) The obsession with this God thing, as if all fUSSR's evils were due to the lack of belief to God d) A lot more than necessary of personal elements of Mikhalkov's life (I remember the death of his mother, how many minutes was that?!?! although there is a slight symbolism, definitely not worthy though so much time) e) He misses several years and some of Anna's answers seem staged. I know I'm too hard towards this movie, even if I've put an 8 (which means that I liked it), because I can see what a work of art Mikhalkov could have achieved if he'd try a little bit more. In any case, rent it. It's good for those who want to have a glimpse at 80's Soviet Union from the inside and it's no comparison with an average Hollywood flick.

I wanted to like this film. Instead, I got less and less comfortable as it progressed. Unfortunately, the film revealed Mikhailkov's own prejudices too baldly, and made too little REAL use of the perspective of the child he was filming. I acknowledge that my perspective has probably been shaped by Russian intellectuals who view him as producing films that Westerners (particularly Americans) WANT to see and too little intellectual honesty -- but this film, his first and last documentary, as far as I know, reveals this all to clearly. So in fact the comment of one reviewer that Mikhailkov is doing something Hollywood rarely does is appropriate --only from the point of view that this is a film more worthy of Hollywood Post-Soviet-style than of an independent film vision.

Mikhailkov is a monarchist and a Russian Orthodox conservative. While he points to his aristocratic and artistic roots, he neglects any real admission that he belonged to the most privileged of Soviet elites. His father wrote the Soviet national anthem!

In fact, we get fewer and fewer of the child's answers as the film goes on, and more and more of her father's interpretations, until we understand why the 13-to-16 year old clamps up, and not purely from adolescent reticence!

The idea of asking someone the same five questions for 12 years is in itself interesting, and the director made a good case. But, personally I think, the director talked too much and used too much documentary clips than needed to carry the idea on.

Overall, a good documentary to review the history of the last couple of decades of the 20th century and get some inspiration on the idea of nationality and identity.

Nikita Mikhalkov excels at exposing his highly personal yet very accessible view of Russian history, particularly the Soviet experience. He achieves this by revealing slices of his own life and of his family's. ANNA is the best example of his unique style, though BURNT BY THE SUN (completed a year or so after ANNA) may always remain his best-known and most acclaimed film. ANNA, in contrast to his best known work, is a real documentary. It's therefore more personal: it still stars him and one of his daughters, the screenplay and direction are his, and yes, he presents Russian history once again in retrospect. ANNA is sublime film-making at many levels, but what stands out in my mind is Mikhalkov's perfection in recounting recent earth-shaking history through a decade of Anna's young life.

I highly suggest this film to anyone with an interest in communist Russia not only because of the historical aspects of the film which are masterfully intertwined with a personal narrative, but for the quite beautiful and touching story of the director's daughter throughout the years.

The movie begins with Anna as a small child and continues through her 18th birthday. Throughout, we get to see the Soviet Union through not only the eyes of the director, but young Anna herself. At times the movie is quite thought provoking and tinged with moments of sadness, such as her uncertainty and fear of the future as a young girl. This is one of the most poetic and profound documentaries I have ever seen. It is truly amazing!

I also suggest Burnt by the Sun, also by the same director.

in my opinion this is nikita mikhalkovs masterpiece. it is a very honest documenation of life and growing up in front of a camera. in the end there will be no one left who didn't get touched by the russian attitude towards our stay on earth.

On the paper, this documentary of a father/director is an incredible idea: keeping records of her daughter and in the same of the soviet dream: Technically, it's a mix of amateur shoots and an editing of news, that reminds me a bit of Oliver Stone filmmaking. The result is indeed moving as we see Anna from child to teen while her country explodes! nevertheless, for me, there is also a great failure: Mikhalkov looks like a dry, stern, cold father who uses Anna like a pet for experimentation. I don't see him really warm with her, he is heavy and not supportive with his questions and even by moments, it looks like he prefers his son or his other daughter! The ending is about a sequel years later and it would be interesting to see it now!

Now, with this movie, i reach the end of my Russian tapes and i left with mixed feelings: this soviet experiment had indeed produced a society totally different from west Europa and it was really bleak, gloom, deceptive... On the other hand, the common people were put (and left) in the middle and they show more compassion, more education than west Europeans! So i think it could be interesting to take a plunge into today movies to discover how it is now out-there ...