This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Don't Believe the Hype

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The award-winning "Anna" is a Danish 35-minute movie from 2009, so two more years and this one will have its 10th anniversary. It is a short film written and directed by Icelandic filmmaker Rúnar Rúnarsson and at that point he was already an Oscar nominee for one of his previous works. Actually, this one we have here was his last short film work before he went on directing full feature films. This is the story of a girl during the formative years of her life, during puberty and while falling in love for the first time. There is also an insight into her family life and the relationship with her mother in particular. While the film had some solid moments overall (I liked the jealousy scene especially in the water), I cannot say I was too amazed by what I watched. Of course, a film can be quietly convincing and I am sure this is the direction the filmmaker was taking here or trying to take as it is really much more about the atmosphere than about spectacular things happening or extraordinary plot/character developments. But sadly, I never thought the way the characters were depicted felt like something deep or truly extraordinary and the performances weren't too convincing either, by the supporting players especially as the lead actress was fine, which may also have had to do with the script. I must say that from a 35-minute film, which is short but not as short as many others I just expect more from that and once again I am not impressed by Rúnarsson's work. have to give this one a thumbs-down. Watch something else instead.

Anna is so complicated in its simplicity. A rare type of film where top class images and sound design carry a lot of the weight of the narrative and gives so much depth to this honest, harsh but beautiful coming of age story. The young Marie Hammer Boda that plays Anna is a revelation and the rest of the cast play well like in all Runarsson films. I been following his development since his Oscar nomination for The Last Farm . What a film. Then came the award winning Smafuglar (2 Birds) that hunts me regularly , what a talent , I haven't been so excited since Lynne Ramsey. I heard that his just out of film school now. Can't wait for his next one. Does anybody know anything ? Is there a feature film coming ? I hope so.