One of the most emotionally painful dramas you will ever watch.... (The Diary of Anne Frank)

Member Name: sparkymarky1973

Product:	The Diary of Anne Frank
Date:	20/01/09 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A brilliantly produced adaptation of one girl's famous diaries

Disadvantages: None- not a dry eye will be left in the house by the time this serialisation is finished

This is the latest of several adaptations of what is without doubt one of the most well known books of all time. Based on the journals of a young girl named Anne Frank, the diary records her thoughts, feelings and emotions during the course of the second world war when she and her family were forced into hiding because of their religious beliefs. Produced by the BBC, this latest television version (shown over five consecutive nights on BBC1 and no doubt soon to be available on DVD) is based on the most up-to-date and unabridged edition of her diaries; prior to his death in the eighties, Anne's father had previously removed certain sections of her journal that he did not think were relevant. These passages outlined in detail Anne's most personal thoughts and emotions at a time, that for other girls', would have signified their sexual awakening. Restoring these pages not only makes her story that more poignant but also makes her more believable as a real character and her recollections all the more tragic and heart-breaking....

Like most people of my generation, I had of course heard of Anne Frank and have watched earlier adaptations in the past but have never actually read the book. The casting of this latest television version is truly inspired and all of the actors and actresses chosen for their roles closely resemble real photographs of the people they are supposed to represent. This latest serial dramatisation too, has attracted a very strong and familiar cast with Leslie Joseph and Tamsein Greig being just two of the names who appear here. The story begins when the Frank family are forced to take hiding in the annex of an office building that is soon concealed behind a bookcase but, as the situation in Amsterdam worsens, other persecuted jews soon join them including the Van Daams' whose presence increases tensions and makes life in hiding increasingly more difficult. Food and goods are supplied by jewish sympathisers who work in the offices below and, during the day, the fugitives are forced to keep quiet in case anyone hears them and suspicions are aroused. At night, lights have to be kept low in case anyone passing by realises they are there and gives up their presence. But as shop owners begin to disappear, such as the local friendly greengrocer, and reports of mass roundings up of jewish people become more prevalent, it quickly becomes apparent that this is a story that has no happy ending and that it is only a matter of time before the worst ensues.....

I had long forgotten what happened to these characters after Anne's diary abruptedly ends so the tragic climax of this mini-series, though perhaps painfully obvious, came as something of a shock to me and actually reduced me to tears. As each of the main characters makes their painful exit stage-left, a brief synopsis of their final days is presented. This is a very subtle and emotional touch that makes these events feel all the more real and really forces people to be aware that these are events that actually did happen and that those who helped them to hide, did so at great risk to themselves. It is impossible to imagine the kind of terror or frightful emotions these people were forced to go through, but dramatisations as moving and thought-provoking as this one help to paint a true picture of what events must have been like. Certainly this modern take on a very well known tale is one of the best I have seen and makes me want to read much more about this awful period in history and learn more about the characters and lives portrayed here. I feel I almost owe it to these people, many of whom died long before I was born, to learn more about their experiences- the better to understand how lucky and fortunate I am to be born in what many regard to be a much better age.

If you only watch one real-life dramatisation this year, you could do worse than watch this one. And if you only read one book then you should think about picking up the diaries of Anne Frank. Just be sure to pack the tissues......I, for one, know what book I will be reading a little later this year.....but I can't promise I won't be having another little cry!

Summary: During the war, one jewish family goes into hiding and one young girl records her life