Anne Frank

REVIEW
Young Taylor-Gordon brings nuance and sincerity to the role of Anne Frank, the Jewish teenager whose diaries and words of hope have inspired generations, in this moving made-for-TV drama. The story follows Anne and her family in the days before Hitler's occupation of Holland, during their years in hiding, and their imprisonment by the Nazis. In attempting to flesh out Anne and her family, the filmmakers have chosen to include Melissa Muller's biography "Anne Frank: A Biography" for their adaptation, rather than solely using Anne's diary. Anne is now more of an average teen, an ordinary girl yearning to be extraordinary. Director Dornhelm's even-tempered pacing brings focus to the story, which -- no matter what the source material -- is a sad reminder to a dark, terrible past; and -- through a young girl's eyes -- a glimmer of hope for the human spirit.