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Waiting for Anya

Play trailer 2:00 Poster for Waiting for Anya Released Feb 7, 2020 1h 49m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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41% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
A boy and a reclusive widow work together to smuggle Jewish children into Spain during World War II.
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Waiting for Anya

Critics Reviews

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David Stratton The Australian Waiting for Anya is a rather bland affair. Given the dangers faced by Jo and Benjamin, there's little in the way of suspense and the uninitiated would hardly appreciate [it]... Oct 15, 2021 Full Review Kevin Maher Times (UK) Budget limitations, tonal inconsistencies and several creaky supporting performances are just some of the elements that scupper this worthy if ultimately inept Michael Morpurgo adaptation. Rated: 2/5 Feb 24, 2020 Full Review Cath Clarke Guardian The film is gorgeous to look at, all alpine meadow flowers and glorious green mountains. But the drama loses momentum pretty early on. Rated: 2/5 Feb 20, 2020 Full Review Brandon Stanwyck InSession Film Considering the target audience for this film is children, I’m somewhat willing to begrudgingly forgive its many missteps. Its many missteps. And missteps is wording it, shall we say, lightly. Rated: D Jul 17, 2024 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies Some are sure to see the film as too sanitized and not harsh enough in its depictions. But Cookson tells a very specific story that doesn’t need to visually emphasize the horrors. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 21, 2022 Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine If broken up into six episodes for TV or streaming, it would be the sort of historical children's drama that used to be commonplace. Rated: 6/10 Oct 16, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (11) audience reviews
Joe D I enjoyed it. A good story with good morals. The view of the mountains and terrain was beautiful! Great camera work. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/27/24 Full Review Diana M It is 1942 WWII and the Germans have taken control of Northern France. A Jewish man, Benjamin takes his daughter, Anya, to a train station leaving France. But they are seen and he desperately manages to get her onto a bus. He stays behind, barely escaping the Nazis. "We always said if we ever got separated, we would meet at grandma's house" - Benjamin Now in 1943, Nazis arrive in a small mountain village in Southern France were Benjamin is hiding at his mother-in-laws (Horcada), waiting on Anya. "I'm staying until Anya comes" - Benjamin But when a young shepherd boy, Jo, discovers that Horcada is not only hiding Benjamin, but many Jewish children, he decides to help them hide and smuggle the children across the border into Spain. "Some people collect coins, stamps, we collect enemies of the Reich, children. Jewish children" - Horcada Now the entire village is at risk under the rule and punishment of the third Reich... And they must decide whether to surrender to evil or come together to save these children, even if it puts their lives at risk. "To those with secrets, rest assured we will come to your door" - Lt Weissmann Wow! What a wonderful movie and based on a true story. This story is more about courage and compassion (without being preachy) beautifully shot and brilliant acting by the entire cast. Cast - Anjelica Huston, Noah Schnapp, Jean Reno, Frederick Schmidt, Thomas Kretschmann Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/05/23 Full Review bill g A very interesting film, well acted and something people should remember, or learn more of what happened by the Nazis in world war 2. Also realize, that almost every soldier was complicit in what happened to theJewish people. This shows that none interfered, even though they were friendly to the villagers Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Overall, this film is quite dramatic, touching and at times, suspenseful.  It feels more like a TV mini-series based on the on-screen quality of visuals and soundtrack rather than a huge blockbuster film. Performances are fine; Noah Schnapp and Anjelica Huston deliver the strongest presence out of the entire cast. The film is quite slow during its first and second acts, leading to a more powerful finale. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/11/23 Full Review john g A warm hearted movie of perseverance! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Terrible. How can a good cast deliver such terrible acting, even more terrible French accents? What should have been a good movie delivered with all the finesse of a bad school play. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Waiting for Anya

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis A boy and a reclusive widow work together to smuggle Jewish children into Spain during World War II.
Director
Ben Cookson
Producer
Phin Glynn, Steffen Wild
Screenwriter
Ben Cookson, Toby Torlesse
Distributor
Vertical Entertainment
Production Co
Goldfinch Studios, Bad Penny Productions
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 7, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 7, 2020
Runtime
1h 49m
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