Anastasia
Anastasia

Movie spotlight

Anastasia

1956
Movie
105 min
English

Russian exiles in Paris plot to collect ten million pounds from the Bank of England by grooming a destitute, suicidal girl to pose as heir to the Russian throne. While Bounin is coaching her, he comes to believe that she is really Anastasia. In the end, the Empress must decide her claim.

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes93%
Google Users91%
Director: Anatole LitvakGenres: Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

In post-revolutionary Russia, a young woman named Anna Koreff is found in a sanatorium in Berlin, suffering from amnesia and strikingly resembling the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna. She is taken in by former Imperial Russian army captain Dimitri Volkov, who, along with his associate Lev Andreyev, attempts to train her to impersonate Anastasia to claim a reward offered by the Dowager Empress. As Anna begins to recall fragments of her past and develops feelings for Dimitri, the true identity of the woman and the loyalty of those around her are called into question.

Critical Reception

Anastasia was a critical and commercial success, particularly lauded for Ingrid Bergman's comeback performance, which earned her an Academy Award. The film was praised for its dramatic scope, historical intrigue, and strong acting, though some modern critics might find its portrayal of historical events stylized.

What Reviewers Say

  • Ingrid Bergman delivers a tour-de-force performance, making her triumphant return to the screen.

  • The film expertly blends historical drama with romantic intrigue, keeping audiences engaged.

  • Helen Hayes provides a memorable supporting role as the formidable Dowager Empress.

Google audience: Audiences generally praise Ingrid Bergman's performance and the film's engaging story, with many appreciating the dramatic tension and romantic elements. Some viewers found the historical aspects less accurate but were still captivated by the acting and storytelling.

Awards & Accolades

Ingrid Bergman won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role. The film also received nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Yul Brynner) and Best Cinematography.

Fun Fact

Ingrid Bergman won her second Best Actress Oscar for her role as Anna Koreff/Anastasia, marking a significant comeback after a period of Hollywood exile due to her personal life.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Whilst this is certainly a lavish and luxuriant production, somehow the sum of the parts just don't add up to much of an whole. Yul Brynner is the ambitious, former general-turned-restauranteur "Bounine" who has been, for many a year, convi...