Waiting for Anya

2020 1h 49m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 94

DramaWar

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

During the harrows of WWII, Jo, a young shepherd along with the help of the widow Horcada, helps to smuggle Jewish children across the border from southern France into Spain.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Noah Schnapp
Jo
Thomas Kretschmann
Korporal
Frederick Schmidt
Benjamin
Tómas Lemarquis
Leutnant
Gilles Marini
Papa
Elsa Zylberstein
Maman
Joséphine de la Baume
Madame
Sadie Frost
Madame Jollet

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ben Cookson
Writers: Ben Cookson, Toby Torlesse
Languages: English
Countries: Belgium, United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 6 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Belgium, United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ben Cookson, shot by Gerry Vasbenter. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by James Seymour Brett. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Chris Gill shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Noah Schnapp and Thomas Kretschmann and Frederick Schmidt carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt7095476 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 94 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ben Cookson directs. Gerry Vasbenter behind the camera. James Seymour Brett scores. Chris Gill cuts. Produced in Belgium, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 6 years ago.
2International production across 3 countries: Belgium, United Kingdom, United States of America.
3Directed by Ben Cookson, shot by Gerry Vasbenter. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by James Seymour Brett. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Chris Gill shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Noah Schnapp and Thomas Kretschmann and Frederick Schmidt carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt7095476 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 94 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Gerry Vasbenter
Original score: James Seymour Brett
Editing: Chris Gill
Production design: Laurence Brenguier
Costume design: Agnès Noden
Makeup / hair: Abi Lilley
VFX supervisor: Ari Levinson
Sound: Ben Carr
Runtime: 109 min · 1h 49m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Waiting for Anya (2020)

Also by

Ben Cookson

Almost Married
2014 · ★ 4.5

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2023-07-24
★ 6/10
Anjelica Huston is the widow "Horcada" who has for quite a while been serving as a conduit to help escaping Jewish and French citizens across the Pyrenee mountains and into the safety of neutral Spain. The arrival of a small but menacing Nazi detachment in their village, however, makes this task even more perilous - and she is fast running out of allies. It's at this point that she turns to the young "Jo" (Noah Schnapp) who is more accustomed to herding sheep, and soon he is providing an essential link trying to get the escapees to freedom. The story here is not that unfamiliar, but there is a solid effort from the engaging young Schnapp and the writing does try to humanise the occupiers - largely via the persona attributed to the corporal (Thomas Kretschmann) - as the story gradually develops. Tómas Lemarquis exudes a fairly subtle degree of menace as their commander and a solid supporting cast including Jean Reno and Sadie Frost help keep this nicely shot, if largely unremarkable and maybe just a bit too wordy, drama moving along to the only denouement we were ever going to get. It is a nice, feel-good, film that makes for a perfect afternoon tea and biscuits watch. Don't expect anything gritty or harrowing, just enjoy some stunning cinematography and a few characterful leading performances.

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