My Thoughts on a Recent Rewatch of Anastasia

This isn't quite so much a film review as it is an "honest thoughts" post. In light of my recent forays into history, I felt it was time to revisit the Anastasia film. I watched it several years ago for the first time, and I loved it. It was beautiful, funny, and utterly magical. Had all the workings of the Disney Renaissance films without the Disney banner. Surprise, surprise, it was made by 20th Century Fox. Crazy, right? But now, watching it, with the knowledge of knowing what actually happened to the Romanov family, the glitz and glamour of this pretty, heartfelt story is wrapped with a thin, bittersweet layer of sadness, knowing that perhaps some version of this film is what could have been if the young Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov had survived the terror of the Russian Revolution.

First, let me begin with some historical context by taking you to a proverbial "time machine" of sorts. The date is February 1917, and what is known as the February/Russian Revolution has just begun. Nicholas II, the last tsar of Russia, leads the people with a weak rule. The people want change, and when the charismatic Vladimir Lenin arrives with a solution to overthrow Imperial Russia, the Bolsheviks rise up. In April 1918, the Bolsheviks place the Romanov family, comprising of Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra Fyodorovna, and their five children, the Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia and the youngest, Tsarevich Alexei, under house arrest. In the basement of the Ipatiev House, on the night of 16-17 July 1918, the entire family is murdered by the Bolsheviks by both gunfire and bayonet stabbing. Their bodies are moved, disfigured and dumped in several graves by the Bolsheviks before finally being laid to rest in St. Catherine's Chapel at Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Truly a sad story, and a horrific end for several innocent children. This case has honestly fascinated me ever since learning about it, and especially ever since learning the fact that young Anastasia's remains were pretty much never found. This has led many to believe that she survived, although much discovery now has proved that this is untrue. Several people have stepped forward claiming to be the young Anastasia, and the most notable of these is Anna Anderson (1896-1984). The proof is conclusive that she did indeed die with the rest of her family on that night in the basement.

But it's why films like this are so appealing. We get to imagine some semblance of what could have been. Only some historical fiction films based on tragedy are as appealing as this one (I'm talking about you, Pocohontas). Truly, no hate to Pocohontas. It's a brilliant Disney film that really drives the message of colonialism home. But if you've ever watched the direct-to-DVD sequel, titled Pocohontas II: A New World, then you'll know that that whole message falls apart very quickly. That entire film is full of plot holes, the premise itself is atrocious, and when you think about what actually happened to Pocohontas, or rather, Matoaka, you can't help but cry with both second-hand embarrassment and grief for how truly tragic her short-lived journey was.

But before I go on a Pocohontas II hate rant, I'm going to continue writing about Anastasia. The film is just as beautiful as it was when I watched it all those years ago. But watching the film in hindsight with the emotional gut punch of the real story is definitely a unparalleled feeling. The songs are cry-worthy, the animation is definitely top-notch, and the character arcs are wonderful and well-written. I'll always love Liz Callaway in any singing voice, and she proves this especially well in the Anastasia film. The romance between Anya and Dmitri is to die for. It's truly a visually stunning, gorgeous film, one for the ages, and despite its dark moments with the main villain, Rasputin, its so worth watching as a family film. I might not recommend it if you know the actual history of Anastasia (that sours the story a little bit and has you focusing on the historical inaccuracies of the original Anastasia and her family rather than actually suspending disbelief for a romantic film such as this). I can agree with not suspending disbelief for a film like Pocahontas, because the historical deviation and blatant disregard for the original story is wild. But nevertheless, Anastasia is a visual delight with great songs and a wonderful romantic arc that might bring on a tear or two by the end. I strongly believe Anastasia should be canonised as a Disney Princess now that Fox is owned by Disney, but that's just my thoughts. She's too awesome not to be a Disney Princess in her own right.

As always, thanks for reading my stuff! Please subscribe and like my stories and comment on them as well (it helps bring up the engagement levels on my works here on Vocal). I've been watching plenty of new stuff lately, so I'm going to be writing some reviews here and there, so stay tuned for more!!

And keep an eye out, I might be putting my very first book, my science-fiction post-apocalyptic romance novella, up for pre-order soon on Amazon! You'll be able to purchase it for Kindle, paperback and hardcover, and for anyone who wants to know the title, its titled 2153: Captive. I'm going to also be working on some sequels in the near future, as I'm wanting to turn it into either a duology or a trilogy. But please keep an eye out for my book!! I'm really excited and I'm halfway through writing it; I can't wait to share it with the world.