<Anna

US (1987): Drama

After 20 minutes of Anna, viewers will be thoroughly convinced that Sally Kirkland, like the character she portrays, is Czechoslovakian born and bred. The film's early scenes concentrate upon Czech refugee Krystyna (Paulina Porizkova), who arrives in New York in search of her idol, famed actress Anna (Kirkland), who was denied reentry to her native country after the 1968 communist invasion. Unable to recapture her celebrity in New York, Anna is forced to go through a series of humiliating auditions conducted by insensitive directors who have no inkling who she is. She must also endure marriage to a self-involved music video director (Robert Fields). When Krystyna and Anna finally meet, each draws strength from the other, enabling both women to survive whatever indignities life has to offer. Directed by former Agnieszka Holland collaborator Yurek Bogayevicz, Anna should have earned Sally Kirkland an Academy Award; perhaps she would have, if only more people had seen this inadequately distributed film. (Magnus/Vestron) (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)

 View a clip from this film on VideoDetective.com.

1 nomination