SLIFF 2010 Review: ANITA

It is morning,  Anita is being awoken by her mother with a kiss on the forehead, a mug of hot chocolate and vanilla biscuits. Anita is a young girl with Down’s Syndrome and this is her world; protected and loving. The film starts out slowly, you are introduced to Anita, her mother, her brother and sister-in-law. The family is very close knit but you get the impression that the brother loves his sister but really can not be counted on to participate in or help with Anita’s care.

Anita is severely handicapped and has a limited knowledge of life, for example at bath time her mother tells her to wash first one arm and then the other. Anita is not even allowed to stir a pot on the stove, as her mother says, “You will burn yourself.” Anita’s world is her mother’s world and the places that they go together whether it is the family store or to her father’s burial plot. On this particular day, Anita is left behind at the store as her mother goes off to collect Anita’s monthly government disability check. A sudden and horrific event occurs that jolts Anita onto a journey. She finds herself in a world to which she does not understand the people or places but she somehow finds  ways to cope.

Anita travels through neighborhoods and areas she never knew existed and this  will influence and affect  all the people she encounters along the way. Anita meets a drunken photo-journalist, who is so wrapped in the tradegy of his life that he can’t seem to figure out what he can do to help Anita. And, then Anita encounters a Chinese shop owner who can only see her as a thief until her elderly mother steps up to demand that her daughter help Anita. She meets up with street thieves who get her the only help that they believe is available. They take her one of the thief’s sister, who is nurse, to get her help but Anita ends up helping this women more. But through it all, Anita’s trusting and loving soul keeps her happy and content.

I found myself completely absorbed into this film. It was as if you were viewing the events from Anita’s perspective and you were unable to figure out the people or the events that were taking place. The movie is not confusing but rather insightful. It was a glimpse of the world from Anita’s view. You, as the viewer, are also put under Anita’s spell. You feel as if someone is going to step up and help Anita. The film was nominated by the Academy of Motion Pictures and Arts of Argentina in 2008 for Best Supporting Actress, Best New Actress, Best Screen Play (original) and Best Supporting Actress.  ANITA won for Best Supporting Actress.

ANITA will play during the 19th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival on Sunday, November 14th at 1:30 pm at Plaza Frontenac; and again on Wednesday, November 17th at 2:00 pm at Plaza Frontenac.