“Anna”, The Movie that Disappeared
When I decided to re-watch Anna, the 1967 French musical comedy directed by Pierre Koralnik, I frantically searched the internet to find the bootleg website I had used the previous time. Eventually I realized that the website had been taken down, and that there was no full version of the film to be found online – anywhere. I accepted the fact that the film had disappeared off the internet. Anna virtually didn’t exist anymore, and had barely left any traces besides a soundtrack on Spotify and a few clips on Youtube.
I first discovered Anna on Pinterest, and I was intrigued by the costume design and description. I remember watching the film in its entirety, unable to press pause, the night before an APUSH test. Afterwards, I listened non-stop to the soundtrack by Serge Gainsbourg, and re-watched the film again and again in order to understand the French lyrics whilst I read the English subtitles. The music is jaunty, free, and encapsulates everything about love and desire.
The movie is about Anna, a shy artist, who is unknowingly photographed by a group of photographers as she gets off a train. She goes about her day, and sulks because she is jobless. She eventually finds a job at an advertising agency, where her boss is none other than the man who has been seeking out her. Her boss, Serge, played by Jean-Claude Brialy, becomes obsessed with the photograph of Anna, quickly falls in love with the girl in the picture, and feels destined to find the woman in the photograph. The movie follows Serge’s journey of finding the mysterious woman and questioning whether or not fictitious love is worth it. Meanwhile, Anna dreams of a better life and of her boss, but wonders if she’s good enough for him.
The story is at the same time beautiful and heart wrenching, simple but complicated. If this movie were a temperature it would be 75 degrees - not too cold nor too hot, perfect weather with a nice chill breeze. I adore this movie for the poetic dialogue and underlying themes of obsession, lust and fictitious love paired with the musical. Sadly, I can no longer re-watch this movie every single day of my life, however I am left with the quotes that I remember and take with me everywhere, (not literally). One quote, “a new life, new horizon, something else” particularly resonates with me, as it reflects my own desire, like Anna, for success, love and happiness. Also, the quotes; “neither happy, nor unhappy” and “a violent poison that’s what love is” have stayed with me after watching this movie. For me, these words dig into a perception of both life and love that I am accustomed to. Anna has also inspired me in many ways as a person; now I am learning French and I hope to move to France eventually.
(Spoilers Ahead)
Not only do the soundtrack and utterly beautiful dialogue and themes stay with me in my everyday life, the heart-wrenching ending gave me a punch in the gut that I also carry everywhere. The movie ends with Anna deciding to follow her desire to start a new life and venture for better things, whilst Serge finally realizes the woman he has been searching for had been Anna the entire time. Serge follows Anna to the train station to find her, only to realize he was too late and she has already gone. The cyclical structure of ending the story at the same location the movie began gives the feeling that the story had come to an end, but also a beginning. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the ending means, other than the notion that love isn’t fair. I think that ultimately, the ending suggests that what we seek might be right in front of our eyes - I’m unsure if that was the film-makers intent, but it’s one interpretation. I can say for sure though, the ending hurts.
Whilst this ending comes full circle as Anna and Serge both are left without one another, on the other hand it is not quite a full circle because both characters are changed. Anna leaves, inspired to follow her dreams, but she is also crushed because of Serge’s infatuation with the picture of the mystery girl, who ironically, is her. Serge is left alone, without Anna, like he was at the beginning, but he is changed because of the realization that what he was looking for was there in front of him the entire time.
I wish I could re-watch Anna so that I could better understand the ending but from what I remember, it reflects how infatuation is unrealistic and ridiculous. Serge had an idea of this girl, oblivious to the fact that she was waiting for him and when he realized it was too late. I take this as a lesson to go after who we love, and be true to our desires, before the opportunity has disappeared. One day I’ll be able to re-watch Anna. That day may be today, tomorrow, next week, next year, 10 years or more, but I hope it’s soon and I hope one day you can watch it as well.
