This film poses an interesting insight into the inner-workings of a family of communist activists, and especially how the transition from capitalist-living effects the daughter and main character of the film, Anna. In 1971 Paris, Anna has been raised a stoic capitalist, attending a Catholic School, living in a big house with a garden and a cuban-refugee nanny. All that changes as her parents take a trip to chile which was currently undergoing a revolution, and become active communists. They move to a small apartment, hire communist-refugee nannies, and need to conserve heat and electricity to pay bills. Yet, Anna learns to adapt to her new communist life-style, and eventually accepts the change as one for the better.
This is intriguing not only for its politically volatile setting, but for the humanity attached to each political movement, whether it be revolutionary or reactionary. There are faces and stories paired with each point of view, Communist, Fascist, Capitalist, Women's Liberation, and all seen through the eyes of a primary-school girl who wants to know why she had to leave her big house, why her aunt is not with her husband, what an abortion is, and what a communist really is. She explores the big questions, and settles for sunday-ing with her family.
Her evolution is what is central to the film, and it is magnificent and life-affirming, and finally, abandons politics for family ties.
No comments:
Post a Comment