Waiting for Anya product reviews

During the harrows of WWII, Jo, a young shepherd along with the help of the widow Horcada, helps to smuggle Jewish children across the border from southern France into Spain.

Waiting for Anya is a drama genre war film, based on a real story. The actual content of the film, in which the entire runtime is devoted, is bookended on both sides with another subplot. The sophomore feature film from director, Ben Cookson, has some structure choices that prevent the film from having a full impact, due to the placement of certain elements in the screenplay (co-written with Toby Torlesse). This subplot shares a character with the main story and is a part of the theme of the main plot, but the set-up is poorly constructed in the first act. We are treated to an emotional sequence with no context, and then the plot thread is left dangling. This dangling thread is frequently referred to throughout the film's runtime but to the detriment of the main story, as the payoff occurs after the conclusion of the main arc.

It's an odd choice, to continually refer to something that isn't directly part of the main story arc, as it prevents the audience from fully engaging with the characters in the main story. Viewers are constantly being reminded that the titular character is still yet to arrive and relegates all other occurrences to set-up and development to a pay-off that doesn't meet expectations.

If you strip the book of its dust jacket, however, Waiting for Anya is a wonderfully balanced dramatic story. Never before have my eyes been privy to a war film that involves Nazi Germany but takes a human approach. These German soldiers are not all the irredeemable killers out to slaughter every person that isn't blonde and blue-eyed. They may be on the other side of the war, but they are still people with their own children, family, and friends, following the orders of their government. Thomas Kretschmann is an incredibly empathetic and charismatic choice as the Colonel opposite the cold and menacing Lieutenant Weissman (portrayed by Tómas Lemarquis).

It is this dichotomy within the ranks of the German soldiers that finally humanizes them. To see soldiers and officers that still have a clear understanding of morality ethics but are simply following orders to protect their own lives. Similarly, the hatred and anger that are often portrayed, come from both sides of the conflict putting forward a diverse mix of personality types; there is no black and white or good and bad, in war.

From a visual sense, the film is adequate. There are several moments where it is incredibly obvious that the actors are standing in front of a computer-generated background (usually during the dialogue scenes in the mountains. It does stand out and can take you out of what is otherwise a very engaging and authentic film. The performance from the Noah Schnapp (who plays Jo) is well-executed as a young actor. Smart, resourceful, and curious enough with the need for precociousness and overexcitement.

Simply put, the choice in title creates somewhat of a red herring and misdirection as to the narrative direction of the film. One expects Anya to have a greater significance is Waiting for Anya, but this is Jo's story of balancing friendships, evaluating trust, and being able to see the good in people, no matter the uniform that they wear.