While the animation in Ari Folman’s “Where is Anne Frank?” is gorgeous, the resulting narrative can be muddled and deter the film’s message.
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“Where is Anne Frank?” Plot Summary
“Where is Anne Frank?” starts with a preface about who Anne Frank is and the context for her diary today. Most kids learn about Anne Frank through the assigned reading of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” a firsthand account of a child during the Nazi occupation. Written and directed by Ari Folman (the acclaimed filmmaker behind 2008’s animated documentary “Waltz with Bashir”), “Where is Anne Frank?” makes the same case of enlightening children and their families about the Holocaust. While the animation is gorgeous, the resulting narrative can be muddled and deter the film’s message.
“Where is Anne Frank?” tells two stories to captivate and educate audiences. The first bold and controversial choice is telling part of Anne’s story through her imaginative friend, Kitty (Ruby Stokes), a young girl who has come to life through Anne’s diary. Kitty is trapped in present-day Amsterdam, trying to search for her old friend, Anne (Emily Carey).
Through Kitty’s memories and Anne’s own diary, we see flashbacks of Anne talking to Kitty and Anne’s family and freedom slowly succumbing to fear and restraint in Nazi-occupied Germany. Meanwhile, Kitty materializes and can be seen by other people when she leaves Frank’s house. She befriends a boy named Peter (Ralph Prosser), who understands that she’s truly Anne’s imaginary friend, and he tries to show her what happened to Anne Frank while conveying that discrimination and hate still exist. Kitty must cope with current discrimination, the loss of her friend, and how to honor her memory.
“Where is Anne Frank?” is as fascinating as it is frustrating. It can deliver a powerful message for children, but it also strangely simplifies the causes and solution to historic discrimination. The soundtrack and visuals are lush and captivating for any audience member, yet by focusing on the fictional Kitty, the story unravels in confusing and possibly offensive ways. Kids love magical realism, but it’s difficult to determine if the true story about a young girl experiencing the Holocaust is appropriate for magical realism. “Where is Anne Frank?” should be asking more questions about the framing of the story and why.
Content Information
“Where is Anne Frank?” is not rated, but includes mature discussions about anti-semitism, death, sex, genocide, and war.
Other Noteworthy Information
- Writer and director Ari Folman’s parents are Holocaust survivors.
“Where is Anne Frank?” General Information
| Director | Ari Folman |
| Screenplay By | Ari Folman |
| Based On Work By | “The Diary of Anne Frank” by Anne Frank |
| Date Released | March 17, 2024 |
| How To Watch | Film Festival – NY International Children’s Film Festival 2024 |
| Genre(s) | Drama |
| Film Length | 1 Hour, 35 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Not Rated |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Kitty | Ruby Stokes |
| Anne Frank | Emily Carey |
| Peter | Ralph Prosser |
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Kitty (Ruby Stokes)
Kitty is Anne’s imaginary friend who longs to be real. She’s inquisitive and brave, but when she has a chance at an actual life, she’s hurt by what she learns about people.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Burning Girls.”
Anne Frank (Emily Carey)
Anne is a typical teen girl with fantasies, crushes, and a teasing relationship with her sister. But when Nazis start to take away Jewish people’s rights, Anne has to grow up fast.
- The actor is also known for their role in “House of the Dragon.”
Peter (Ralph Prosser)
Peter is one of the people who believes and wants to help Kitty. As someone who has faced his fair share of discrimination, Peter has only had himself to depend on.
- The actor is also known for their role in “.”
“Where is Anne Frank?” Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Let us know your thoughts in the comments:
- What did you think of “Where is Anne Frank?” How did it handle the sensitive material? Would you show this to a child?
Highlights
Lush Animation Creates Mesmerizing Magic
Director Ari Folman sticks with classic 2D animation to illustrate the dreams, fantasies, and world of Anne Frank and Kitty. But every scene feels captivating, lively, and filled with secrets in every frame. Stills do not do justice to the lush animation conveyed in “Where is Anne Frank?” Viewers may be confused by the story but are immediately entranced by the animated world of “Where is Anne Frank?”
On The Fence
Whose Story Is This?
“Where is Anne Frank?” tries to balance telling Frank’s story through the eyes of her imaginary friend, Kitty, while also telling a present-day story through the eyes of Kitty. The framing device is intriguing, but gets muddled when we start seeing Anne Frank’s memories or Kitty’s fantasies. In the middle of an argument about why Kitty is a redhead, Anne claims she’s confused because she made Kitty up. I’m equally confused. What works as a poetic short story suffers from convoluted twisting when trying to show flashbacks and, today, fact and fiction.
Magical Realism of the Holocaust
“Where is Anne Frank?” may be a more accessible reimagining of Frank’s diary, and it may just educate a viewer who knows nothing. But it also comes at the cost of details that harm knowledge about actual tragedies. The end of “Where is Anne Frank?” is shockingly simple with national trauma and traumatic with what was supposed to be its simple B-story. Are people invested in Kitty’s love story or how she came to be? Are they more interested in that than the story of Frank? The movie tries to have it both ways and claims all we need is a passionate speech to treat each other equally. All of it feels well-intentioned but has bad results.
Good If You Like
- More mature animated films and stories about Anne Frank.
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