Anne Frank Remembered

Kenneth Branagh narrates Jon Blair's profoundly moving Academy Award-winning documentary that etches a vivid portrait of Anne Frank as recalled by family members, childhood friends and concentration camp survivors. Priceless footage includes actual film of young Anne herself looking out a window, taken accidentally by a wedding photographer in 1941. Viewers will also not soon forget Meip Gies, who saved Anne's diary and presented it to Anne's father after her death (her appearance at this year's Oscar ceremony was an emotional highpoint). Like Steven Spielberg's "Voices of the Shoah" oral history project, films such as this are the best defense against those who would deny the Holocaust. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (K. Lee Benson)[DVD Review--Mar. 9, 2004--Columbia TriStar, 117 min., PG, $24.95--Making its debut on DVD, Jon Blair's 1995 documentary Anne Frank Remembered boasts a solid near full screen transfer (preserving the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio), and excellent Dolby Digital surround sound, but no extras. Bottom line: although extra-less, this Oscar-winning doc is highly recommended on DVD.]