HANNA (2019 – 2020) – My rating: 8/10

 

Because Hanna is a streaming Cable TV series each episode was directed by a different director as well as written by several writers. Each episode is treated separately with the continuous story of a different, sheltered, and gifted young lady. Of the TV adaptation, writer David Farr says: “I’ve always felt the film was weirdly male but knew this TV series would have a more female-centric quality.” I’m happy I choose to add Hanna (a remake of the original movie of the same name) to my playlist as it was an exciting series.

 

**** SPOILERS ****

Erik Heller (Joel Kinnaman) is a former CIA operative whose job was to recruit a very pregnant Johanna (Joanna Kulig) to participate in an exclusive CIA program, code name UTRAX. Pregnancy is the prerequisite to join UTRAX, which secretly enhanced children’s DNA with 3% wolf in order to create super-soldiers. Erik falls in love with Johanna who eventually gives birth to Hanna (Esme Creed-Miles). Erik, Johanna, and Hanna flee the program but Johanna is shot leaving Erik with Hanna.  He rescues Hanna fleeing the UTRAX program and the CIA.  In an effort to cover up UTRAX, the CIA orders their on-site agent, Marissa Wiegler (Mireille Enos), to shut down the project and eliminate all the babies. Currently, 15-year-old Hanna lives in a remote part of a forest in Poland with her stepfather Erik, who happens to be the only man she has ever known. Erik has trained Hanna to be an incredible killer and hunter on high alert, as they continue to be unlawed.

SEASON ONE:
In season one, Hanna and Erik face many trials and tribulations.  Now experiencing adolescence, Hanna becomes curious about her very being.  She ventures away from her safe haven with Erik and learns much about the world she has been sheltered from.  Meeting new and exciting people, Hanna manages to survive while keeping her secrets intact.  She befriends Sophie (Rhianne Barreto) and even develops a crush on a high school student named Anton (Gamba Cole) who she meets through Sophie.  Many twists and turns fill season one with an adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

SEASON TWO:
In season two, Hanna has a new friend that’s like her named Clara Mahan/Girl 249 (Yasmin Monet Prince).  They are in serious danger since Clara escaped from UTRAX.  One of the biggest twists occurs in this season.  Adventures take place in Northern Romania, Paris, and Barcelona.  There is an enormous amount of kidnapping and trust issues between Hanna and Marissa and the team at UTRAX. Hanna, season two focuses on deciding just where Hanna will end up.

I found Hanna to be a worthwhile series that is certainly entertaining, exciting, and suspenseful. It is very much like the original movie, I’m not sure that this is a bad thing.  I do know as more seasons are introduced, the storyline usually changes.  On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 67% based on 39 reviews, with an average rating of 6.63/10. The second season holds a Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 93%, indicating universal acclaim. Hanna is airing on Amazon Prime Video with eight episodes each season, you might want to Check It Out!

 

OPERATION FINALE (2018) – My rating: 8/10

Operation Finale is a historical drama, directed by Chris Weitz and screenplay by Matthew Orton. The film stars Oscar Isaac (who also produced).  I was anxious to see Operation Finale because I like learning about all that happened during the Holocaust. Most of these type films are brilliantly produced. Israeli spies from the Mossad work to track down and capture Adolf Eichmann.

** SPOILERS **

Peter Malkin (Oscar Isaac) an Israeli spy, was part of a team (Mossad) whose mission was to bring in a Nazi spy. The team abducted and shot the wrong man, who died outside his home, leaving his wife widowed and his children fatherless. Fast forward to 1960, Argentina — while at the movies, which featured “Imitation of Life“, a young girl named Sylvia Hermann (Haley Lu Richardson) encounters a young boy named Klaus Eichmann (Joe Alwyn) who was with friends seated in the back row of the theater. Klaus and his friends were making a bit of a ruckus, laughing loudly at the part of the movie when the daughter, passing for white, was discovered to be Black by her boyfriend.  Sylvia shushed them but only Klaus reacted by shushing her back. She repeated her action by shushing them again, only this time with a smile on her face. Klaus responded the same, also with a smile on his face. Later they met and started dating. Sylvia lived with her blind father, Lothar Hermann (Peter Strauss), who encouraged Sylvia to invite Klaus to dinner. During that dinner, Lothar questioned Klaus intently. When asked about his background, Klaus said that his father had died and his uncle took him in and raised him as if he were his very own son. He told of a grateful young man who had no place else to live. Soon after, word gets to Peter that they may have access to Adolf Eichmann (Ben Kingsley) who was one of Hitler’s masterminds and executioners of the Holocaust. Peter would have to convince his superior, Isser Harel (Lior Raz) who became the Director of Mossad, that this may very well be a legitimate find. Isser  informed Peter, after what happened with the last mission, he couldn’t afford to screw up another one on a blind man’s suspicions. Eventually, Peter received word that the operation was a go. The team went into action, taking pictures of Klaus’ home and encouraging Sylvia to get involved. While dating, Klaus takes Sylvia to a meeting at the home of a prominent Nazi. They started off with Champaign and individual conversations where Sylvia met Carlos Füldner (Pêpê Rapozale) who questioned her name and background. Fortunately, the meeting started, saving Sylvia by the bell. When the meeting turned radical and aggressive, Sylvia abruptly left, which ended any chance of dating Klaus in the future. Sylvia was instructed by the Mossad team to bring a present to Klaus as a peace offering in order to get Adolf out in the open. When Sylvia entered the house, she was greeted with kindness and respect as she presented the present and said she and Klaus had had a misunderstanding and this was her way of apologizing. Klaus was not there but when he showed up, he was nasty and wanted nothing to do with Sylvia. She eased out the door and hurriedly walked toward the spot where she was dropped off, only to find the car gone, so she kept walking to the bus station. Klaus decided to go after her and find out why she left the meeting. When asked Sylvia said she wasn’t feeling well, but Klaus knew that wasn’t true. He tried to determine what would really make her leave and came up with, she might be a Jew. She confirmed his suspicions and asked did that really matter. Klaus became angry and didn’t answer her, indicating he wanted no part of a relationship with Sylvia. Once the team had gathered enough evidence, the investigation was in full swing complete with a plan to snatch Adolf and hold him in a safe house until the team could expedite him to Israel.

Operation Finale is an intense Holocaust story of bravery and determination. The team (Hanna Elian (Melanie Laurent), Peter Malkin (Oscar Isaac), Rafi Eitan (Nick Kroll), Moshe Tabor (Greg Hill) and Zvi Aharoni (Michael Aronov ) who were still standing up against a Nazi regime had many problems protecting themselves as well as executing their mission. Since this is a true story, many may know of the details and end result. If you do not know, this movie is very enlightening. The story was well told and brilliantly acted. The film was released in the United States on August 29, 2018, and received mixed reviews from critics. If movies about the holocaust appeal to you, then this is a good one to check out.