September 9, 1997

Anastasia (1997) ***

Once again, Hollywood filmmakers flunked their history and geography tests: the Soviet Revolution wasn't led by Rasputin, St.Petersburg was named Petrograd in 1914 and Leningrad 10 years later, there are no mountains in northern Russia and nobody in his right mind would navigate across a stormy sea to get from Germany to France! But if we generously overlook those tiny little details, we are free to enjoy a spectacular, fast-paced and exciting animated extravaganza about a Russian princess trying to get to Paris to claim her heritage. The musical numbers are particularly memorable.