After the virus kills all adults (yes, this plot was written before the covid), suddenly there are only kids alive. This series is based on the book of the innovative Italian writer\director Ammoniti (see his The Miracle - excellent show!). I found this dark and raw tale quite original, something unseen before. I would say it is a mix of Midsommar and the Lord of the Flies. Because the immagined world of uneducated kids is very cruel, full of mistery and fear mixed with desperate wish to live. Excellent acting and SUPERB production design (really incredible). The weak part is many goofs which make the story bit fake - like the girl has her arm cut by other kids, but she is ok without any serious treatment. And there are just TOO MANY flashbacks serving as the background story. I would prefer more linear story here. It would be more frightening and not so dotted. But anyways, a must see!!!
16 Reviews
Good One
Tweetienator12 September 2021
Anna is no bad work - some fine cinematography, acting is solid, the soundtrack too. A weak point are those flashbacks that are imo disturbing the natural flow and tone of the story told. But nevertheless, Anna is an interesting and partly really entertaining contribution to the post-apocalyptic genre and as such, worth a try, assumed that you are not only on the search of the next action and gore-loving movie/show in Mad Max style. Recommended if you like such shows/movies like Los Últimos Días (The Last Days, 2013), Into the Forest (2015), The Road and so on.
Excessive display of garbage and dirt
valentinmh23 November 2021
Last episode is the best. The series could've been better at half length. I pity and I'm totally against those so many very young children actors forced to swim amongst that colossal amount of real unhealthy garbage. There ain't no regulations there concerning juveniles' hazardous "jobs" ?!?
Blown away
urbanvikingale18 November 2021
I went into this thinking it'd be a typical kids survive apocalyptic scenario like "The Tribe" and ended up watching one of the best shows I've ever seen. It's cinematography, child actors, musical score, atmosphere and story was hypnotic. You are completely drawn into this strange Lord of the Flies meets Pans Labyrinth recipe and it doesn't stutter or drag at all. There are so many scenes which will stick with you. And the cherry on the cake was my favourite song ever playing at the end which fitted like a glove. Wonderous.
Just beautiful
migueldagenais27 December 2021
In Fench we say that cinema is the 7th art and this limited serie make you understand why.
You are being told a good apocalyptic story through the lense of a director that clearly took too many drugs in his life. The result is near perfect IMO, with great acting by most (however some were terrible), a good music track, useful flash backs that help you understand where your favorite characters come from, super original in the sense that it looks like nothing that I have seen and great artistically scenery mixed in.
Anna definitely should be on your list if you are a movie fan who gets bored by the typical stuff.
You are being told a good apocalyptic story through the lense of a director that clearly took too many drugs in his life. The result is near perfect IMO, with great acting by most (however some were terrible), a good music track, useful flash backs that help you understand where your favorite characters come from, super original in the sense that it looks like nothing that I have seen and great artistically scenery mixed in.
Anna definitely should be on your list if you are a movie fan who gets bored by the typical stuff.
10 stars
suggskevin9 February 2022
Anna is by far one of the most interesting post apocalyptic shows I've ever seen. Lord of the Flies meets The Stand with a healthy dash of family love and a pinch of a coming of age story is what you'll get with this. The acting from the kids is awesome, the music fits perfectly, the sets are amazing; they literally made it look like kids ruled the world for a few years with the grime and filth. I was hooked 5 min into the show. FYI not a show for young kids.
Highly distubing tv show
lovemusic-1628828 November 2021
Anna is a tv show about children but not made for children. And as it is made for adults I find the sexual undertone highly disturbing. The way some of the girls are pictured seems totally out of order, and has no value for the story line itself. Very creepy.
Masterpiece
marcocouture11 March 2022
Not bad, not good.
karyoten2 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
After watching 4 episodes, I couldn't bring myself to watch the rest, as I said is not bad, the cinematography and the soundtrack are perfect.
The only problem for me was the acting of the extras, I understand they are children, but some faces they made just keep breaking the immersion and the dude who got an ear bitten of was like. 'Okay, I guess I have no ear now'. No screams of pain his face was inexpressive. And after what that dude did to her, she just lets him go. WTF.
The only problem for me was the acting of the extras, I understand they are children, but some faces they made just keep breaking the immersion and the dude who got an ear bitten of was like. 'Okay, I guess I have no ear now'. No screams of pain his face was inexpressive. And after what that dude did to her, she just lets him go. WTF.
a disturbing reinvention of Fellini
erykhagen10 September 2021
Unbelievable..... amazing
JimmyTreeX14 May 2022
I was very hesitant once I saw it was a series full of kids, but wow did they turn out to be amazing! The acting was amazing! This is my first experience with authentic Italian cinema, and all I kept thinking was how they were in a completely different league than what I'm use to in the States (Hollywood). Not only the acting, but the story telling, the details, the sets, etc etc.
I was blown away by this series. I can't believe how much they did with just six episodes. It truly is a masterpiece.
What the hell am I supposed to do now? Lol...
I was blown away by this series. I can't believe how much they did with just six episodes. It truly is a masterpiece.
What the hell am I supposed to do now? Lol...
One Episode to go!
brandonwjack18 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Anna I am transfixed on your story.
Why did your mother not go to see the play that you were in? I guessed you were cast as Cleopatra. It is sad she did not go, or even your papa, he did not go to see his princess perform. Perhaps an innocent school teacher would not have lost her life. The book: Why did your mother leave out the #1 rule... Do not play with matches. Perhaps Astor would not have been found by the Blues & the house trashed & all the seemingly related cataclysmic things that happened to you. Ahh but you Anna are very strong. And your temper is truly Sicilian. And you are hard headed. That much I know, your blood line leads to Calabria as well. This story with its flashbacks is like a fine tapestry deserving many many viewings to gather its full potential. Why is it that girls named Angelica can be oh so evil? I immediately thought of Rug Rats & Angelica Pickles. But this Angelica scares me! I like Pietro he is good boy. This tale sadly cut short from 8 episodes to six was a sin. For it is cinematically bellissimo. Like the tomato Pietro offered to Anna. I cried for you Anna so many times as I felt your pain. I am half Italian. It is weird the first word I learned, braccio. The last I saw you, running to the main land across the ashes of Aetna. God speed my precious Anna. My only hope is the grownups will come with a cure. For my Princess if you die I to will cease to exist. 14 years a Dog's life but so cruel it seemed at times. But the love you found will last forever <3.
Why did your mother not go to see the play that you were in? I guessed you were cast as Cleopatra. It is sad she did not go, or even your papa, he did not go to see his princess perform. Perhaps an innocent school teacher would not have lost her life. The book: Why did your mother leave out the #1 rule... Do not play with matches. Perhaps Astor would not have been found by the Blues & the house trashed & all the seemingly related cataclysmic things that happened to you. Ahh but you Anna are very strong. And your temper is truly Sicilian. And you are hard headed. That much I know, your blood line leads to Calabria as well. This story with its flashbacks is like a fine tapestry deserving many many viewings to gather its full potential. Why is it that girls named Angelica can be oh so evil? I immediately thought of Rug Rats & Angelica Pickles. But this Angelica scares me! I like Pietro he is good boy. This tale sadly cut short from 8 episodes to six was a sin. For it is cinematically bellissimo. Like the tomato Pietro offered to Anna. I cried for you Anna so many times as I felt your pain. I am half Italian. It is weird the first word I learned, braccio. The last I saw you, running to the main land across the ashes of Aetna. God speed my precious Anna. My only hope is the grownups will come with a cure. For my Princess if you die I to will cease to exist. 14 years a Dog's life but so cruel it seemed at times. But the love you found will last forever <3.
beginning is beautyful then compromise tainted it
lululul14 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The first 2 episodes were captivating, the atmosphere, the innocence. You have a pandemic, adults die, children surviving as best as they can. Nature is build on beauty and cruelty living in harmony. Nature is ephemeral. Then episode 3 happened : a wet dream for pee do viles. I guess that probably got him the money to even make the movie. Episode 4 is pure brainwashing. Even though as in so many movies/series it seems to be about the rebel that has difficulties blanding in, the real lesson here is that we need a leader, oh and being enslaved is so much fun. The notions of good and evil live in eternity. They do not belong on earth. They do live in episode 5, more brainwashing. Her 'boyfriend' wants to join the angels sigh. The sixth episode has anna and her brother reunited because family...yes more brainwashing. But you have that everywhere not just in this gem of a series, so i just found it slightly annoying. I also turned a blind eye to the fact they cut anna's arm and she went on living the life. She is on long journeys with hardly any luggage but she looks showered and fed, even in the flashbacks there is debris everywhere but no insects or nasty rodents. The last episode is still on, they are going to the mainland, some more brainwashing by (the controlling or is it caring) mother through flashbacks. Are they going to bring dead to it or are we brainwashed in believing there is hope and anna will be saved. They are pedalling for their lives lol. Overall the soundtrack is magnificent, so is the atmosphere, the photography, nature wow. I like anna, her little brother is already portrayed toxic, because that's woke i guess. Flashbacks are there to be endearing? Oh some more symbolism and romance. Anna is a child though. Leave her be. Some more of mother's instructions, do as you're told child, sigh. I guess anna is growing up becoming the adult, and die? Boom they hit a boat. It's a containership full of, you guessed it, food, oh there are people, adults, not sick, a newborn, a small family : the world can live on. I guess, hahahaha no 8 stars from me though lol. The religious undertone in the final scene just killed it for me. But watch it and enjoy.
Wonderful Series wonderful child actors
sueees1 June 2023
Greatly enjoyed this series bout how children cope when left alone without adults. The adults have all died from a virus but the children are ok until they hit puberty.
Stick with it, it's really worth it The music is stunningly beautiful & haunting also.
I hope to see more of the actors from this as they grow & develop their skills.
Lots of themes including how children behave when left to their own devices. The cruelty or compassion is volatile. They stick with family or make their own with a clan, the clan leaders have power and its very scary to witness them behaving like cruel dictators.
Stick with it, it's really worth it The music is stunningly beautiful & haunting also.
I hope to see more of the actors from this as they grow & develop their skills.
Lots of themes including how children behave when left to their own devices. The cruelty or compassion is volatile. They stick with family or make their own with a clan, the clan leaders have power and its very scary to witness them behaving like cruel dictators.
Acting and score, 10/10
bobbiwibble9 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The young actors give fantastic performances across the board. I did chuckle at the review that mentioned the boy who got his ear bitten off reacting like "oh I have no ear now" because that is spot on, BUT, the young actor showed plenty of range apart from that, so in this case I'll happily accept the explanation that "some kids respond to trauma by showing no emotion" which is a very overused excuse in other programmes/ films but valid here.
The sexualisation really is too much - I can see it working in a novel and I have no problem with kids having a sexuality but I'm fairly sure you can express that on camera without slow-panning across actual pubescent children arses and what my Mum would call "cossie lines" Phrases like "the male lens" can often be hard to define but I would point to this as a modern example - young girl is punished and humiliated in her family home? Got to pan down to that bright blue arse, so we can all feel her anger and defiance and also pre-pubescent thigh gap.
Bums aside, the main actress is exceptionally good but I think she has got some recognition already so I want to highlight how much I enjoyed young Anna's understated performance (just checked and both her and baby Astor's credits list just one name? But it would be very unusual not to substitute a pair of twins and baby Astor's face screams "twins" to me. I could be wrong though)
Anyway I thought young Anna was played very well. I could feel the frustration coming off her at how perceived injustice was considered brattiness, and in the scene where her dad dies she barely moves but her eyes are acting more than a lot of adult actors.
I gave this 8/10 because the young actors deserve a 10 and the music is gorgeous, but at least one adult on set is enjoying it for the wrong reasons.
The sexualisation really is too much - I can see it working in a novel and I have no problem with kids having a sexuality but I'm fairly sure you can express that on camera without slow-panning across actual pubescent children arses and what my Mum would call "cossie lines" Phrases like "the male lens" can often be hard to define but I would point to this as a modern example - young girl is punished and humiliated in her family home? Got to pan down to that bright blue arse, so we can all feel her anger and defiance and also pre-pubescent thigh gap.
Bums aside, the main actress is exceptionally good but I think she has got some recognition already so I want to highlight how much I enjoyed young Anna's understated performance (just checked and both her and baby Astor's credits list just one name? But it would be very unusual not to substitute a pair of twins and baby Astor's face screams "twins" to me. I could be wrong though)
Anyway I thought young Anna was played very well. I could feel the frustration coming off her at how perceived injustice was considered brattiness, and in the scene where her dad dies she barely moves but her eyes are acting more than a lot of adult actors.
I gave this 8/10 because the young actors deserve a 10 and the music is gorgeous, but at least one adult on set is enjoying it for the wrong reasons.
Stunning. Unique and thought provoking
radiantbologny11 January 2024
I have, like many people, been very interested in movies, shows and fiction about post apocalyptic speculative scenarios. I saw Anna when it came out; I've thought about it a lot since so I watched it again AND read the book.
This is a different world than we have seen in other iterations of this genre. It is the world, but specifically Sicily, after all the adults over the age of 16 or so not only have died, but also will die. All the kids will age out, and they know it.
It's like a global scale Lord of the Flies. The author of the book was intent on not sentimentalizing the children. They are wild and brutal and feral, they have no sentimentality, no history that they can really remember. They are savage, blunt. Heartbreaking. And beautiful. The cinematography is exquisite; the lighting, the dreamy grunge of everything. The soundtrack and score- impeccable. This is next level story telling, hence it won't be everyone's taste. But you'll see and feel things you never thought you would. It's haunting, and that's probably the highest praise I can give. It stays with you.
This is a different world than we have seen in other iterations of this genre. It is the world, but specifically Sicily, after all the adults over the age of 16 or so not only have died, but also will die. All the kids will age out, and they know it.
It's like a global scale Lord of the Flies. The author of the book was intent on not sentimentalizing the children. They are wild and brutal and feral, they have no sentimentality, no history that they can really remember. They are savage, blunt. Heartbreaking. And beautiful. The cinematography is exquisite; the lighting, the dreamy grunge of everything. The soundtrack and score- impeccable. This is next level story telling, hence it won't be everyone's taste. But you'll see and feel things you never thought you would. It's haunting, and that's probably the highest praise I can give. It stays with you.
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