How do you follow an acclaimed, Oscar-nominated animation like **Waltz With Bashir **and the head-twisting The Congress? If you’re director Ari Folman, you set your sights on no less a subject than Anne Frank.
Such is Folman’s reputation that he’s been granted full access to the archives of the world’s most famous diarist, a first for a filmmaking team. He’ll need it, as he faces the challenge of saying something new and fresh about a real-life young woman whose story – of hiding in attics and chambers from the Nazis for two years during World War II – has been brought to screens both big and small many times through the years. From the sounds of it, however, he’ll have the cooperation of Frank’s family.
“Bringing the Anne Frank diary to all screens is a fantastic opportunity and challenge as there is a real need for new artistic material to keep the memory alive for younger generations,” Folman says in a statement picked up by Deadline. He’s set to start making the movie early next year, though we doubt Justin Bieber will be invited to contribute to the soundtrack. TOPICAL JOKE, THERE.
The Congress, meanwhile, should hit UK screens next spring.