Julia McGrath ’23
Staff Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5
TRIGGER WARNING: Antisemitism, depictions of the Holocaust.
Based on the real-life friendship between Anne Frank and Hannah Goslar, “My Best Friend Anne Frank” is a film about the highs and lows of female friendship as much as it is about World War II. As Nazism impacts their lives more and more, these girls persist in trying to make the most of their situation.
Told from Hannah’s perspective, the movie alternates between her life before and during her imprisonment in a concentration camp while telling Anne Frank’s story from a different point of view. Played brilliantly by Aiko Beemsterboer, Anne is a lively, rebellious teen who wants to travel the world and to one day become famous. This makes her scenes in the concentration camp all the more heartbreaking. The agony in her voice when she reunites with Hannah is so clear it brought me to tears.
However, a short subplot where Anne makes fun of Hannah for not knowing much about female anatomy shows Anne in a new, less flattering light. It’s an important scene because it shows that Anne Frank was a regular person, and like most people, she has flaws and brief lapses in judgment.
Warning: spoilers beyond this point.
Not to be forgotten, Josephine Arendsen’s performance as Hannah Goslar is equally amazing, a perfect match for Beemsterboer’s Anne Frank. Hannah contrasts Anne as a by-the-book person who cares deeply for her family and wants to become a nurse when she grows up. She has some surprisingly funny moments when she’s with Anne, serving as refreshing breaks from the generally serious tone of the film. The audience slowly sees Hannah leave her shell. But, the war becomes too much, nearly ruining her confidence.
In an upsetting turn of events, her mother dies in childbirth due to Nazi intervention. Soon after, her remaining family is sent to a concentration camp. Her father grows ill from the terrible conditions there and dies. The last light left in Hannah’s life is seeing Anne from across the fence in another camp. Desperate for kindness and connection, Hannah goes through with a plan to bring Anne food so she doesn’t starve to death. This is the last time they see each other before Anne dies.
Luckily, not long after this short-lived reunion, Hannah and her younger sister are liberated from their camp by Allied soldiers. Like she always wanted, Hannah goes on to become a nurse and never forgets Anne. The text at the end of the film even states that throughout the rest of her life, she still called Anne her best friend.
In conclusion, “My Best Friend Anne Frank” is a tragic yet heartwarming film that shows how friendship can persevere even through the darkest of times. Though it was originally filmed in Dutch, the message this movie gives to viewers is in no way lost in translation. “Anne Frank” will surely please history buffs as well as casual moviegoers, for an unforgettable watch that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll.
“Friend Anne Frank” is the first Dutch film about Anne Frank’s life. It can be found on Netflix, with an English dub.
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