Allow me to start with a rhetorical question... Do we all know the story of Anne Frank? I'm sure we do... And if not, then you have the perfect excuse to watch this Japanese anime film about a real-life drama that took place in the context of the Second World War, under the yoke of the Nazis in Europe. In fact, the film is set in 1942, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, at the height of Germany's domination of that country. And we are witnesses to the narrative that the film presents us with.
The events unfold in a linear fashion. And little by little we witness the fundamental and profound changes that take place within the political context of the time. Let's not forget that the mere concept of resistance that we could so easily demand today from the people who had to go through that war machine would simply not be applicable. And all because of Nazi domination at that precise moment in Europe's history. Anne, her family, her friends, her acquaintances and almost anyone else who shared the same religious faith, overnight became ‘Enemies of the Fatherland’....
I know that handling and understanding these terms is not exactly attractive when it comes to making a story in Japanese animation, but Madhouse Studios, responsible for this film, recreates very faithfully the diaries that Anne's father, Otto, kept after the end of the war in 1945. The story follows a plot faithful to that of the historical diaries. In fact, from a strict point of view, it is basically a per-animated biopic. And this is precisely what is fascinating and uncomfortable about this film. It is very real. The animation concentrates on showing the hardship of living for almost 3 years crammed into the false bottom of an apartment complex in the centre of Amsterdam, at the height of the persecution of the Jewish community throughout Europe.
Visually, the style of the film is a bit more classical. Although it is clearly made in Japan, the respect for the original events is so evident that the elements of existentialism and the study of introspection that are so typical of Japanese anime are (barely) visible. But this does not mean that it lacks depth and meaning. In fact, among the many productions on the Second World War, in anime, manga, series and films, very little can be seen from the European perspective of the conflict. And Anne no Nikki is one of those few wonders that have been preserved to reach us today, 30 years later.
Without a doubt, this film is made with obvious care for literary details (as it is entirely based on the Diary of Anne Frank) but it also preserves the spell of oriental animation. It is impossible not to be moved but above all it teaches you several lessons about humanity... It doesn't hurt, in these troubled, hard times, full of conflicts and struggles for power on all continents, that art (anime) reminds us that not so long ago we were able to inflict a lot of pain (unnecessary and avoidable) on millions of people by absurd chance... Anne no Nikki is simply outstanding and a must-see in the Japanese and Western biopic and war genre. Take my word for it, it's worth seeing.