The subdued color until the final bright scene, the music, the low key acting with only one dramatic outburst in the film, all give the feeling of great oppression. The horror of being occupied by foreign power in your own country is constantly portrayed. Juxtaposed to this oppression is the strength, courage, and love of one woman.
Anne Frank herself isn't portrayed as the beautiful child we've seen in other versions. She is rather plain and quiet, but there are scenes when she does blossom out as one mature for her years with her own sense of strength and courage.
We don't, of course, see the whole story of the Franks, because the focus here is on the woman, Miep Gies. The movie is based on a book by the woman, a book I hope to read in time.
This is not exactly an entertaining movie, nor is it a morbid or dreary experience. It does portray not only the plight of the Jews, but also the plight of the Dutch people. And it is good that we emphasize with the people of that time. Present generations don't realize that it could have happened here. If a few battles had gone another way, if Hitler had paid more attention to Rommel, our history could have been drastically and unimagineably changed. And so it is good for us to watch what a captive nation is like.
No, this isn't entertainment in its strictest sense, but it does have an uplifting feeling at the end and is quite worth the watching, to make an understatement.
