L'anneau de Cassandra

Natashja Kinski provides a wonderful and inspiring performance of this tear jerker. A truly great performance for a made-for-TV movie. All the supporting roles were acted magnificently and appeared to be historically correct.

I paid less than $7.00 for this 3 hour gem from Columbia House. I was born at the start of WWII and can relate to this masterpiece. Danielle Steel has created another great story and I have enjoyed collecting over 16 of her dramas on DVD.

My only regret was Michael York's character was killed off too early in the film. However the drama and suspense of the siblings separation holds the drama together with suspense until the end.

This movie has got to be the greatest tear-jerker I've ever seen. Natassja Kinski is magnificent. She is one beautiful and talented actress. All of the supporting actors and actresses are excellent and well cast. The re-creation of the environment in Nazi Germany in the 30s and 40s is right on; the cinematography is very good, especially for a TV movie.

The film is a little long- 180 minutes- as it was originally shown as a two-part TV movie. However, it moves fairly well, and you're always wondering what will come next. The only negative (minor) is that Nastassja's character could have been aged more realistically.

It's one of Nastassja's finest roles. I recommend it highly.

I first heard of Jon Tenney when I saw him in Danielle Steet Novel titled "The Ring" I almost didn't finish watching it because it was so touching and emotional. The separation of families during a war is so devastating, but how they all came back together again was very inspiration. It's stories like "The ring" that we learn to appreciate what we have in this country. It was Jon Tenny's acting that kept me glued to my TV. My oldest daughter is Jon's age. I am so intrigued by our young people's response to such tragic stories. I can see how we gave our children too much and hindered their development. So I hope that Joh gets a lot more jobs in movies, TV would be so great because I am homebound as so are a lot of seniors in my area and these stories we connect with, Thank You so much!!

I like this film because it shows just what a person can go through by losing her family and her husband to the war it shows just how a person uses their character, it is a film of extreme courage and it appeals to me in every way this film and the writer daniella Steel have done a GREAT job well done

This adaptation of Danielle Steel's novel is something that has stayed imprinted on my memory for some time.

So many war films cast the Germans as the "baddies" but, here, the devastation wrought to individual lives by World War II leaves us no option but to feel pity for the main characters involved, regardless of which side they represent. Once we leave behind the horrors of war-torn Berlin, we are taken on an emotional journey as three individuals strive to find each other across the world in the ensuing administrational chaos. We cannot help but will them to succeed; we cry with them, we smile with them.

The detail within this story is extraordinary. Almost every line of script is vital to the plot, as it twists and turns, with fate proving as cruel as it is kind. Every word is entirely believable, realistic, heartfelt. We follow the characters in their affluence, their desperation, their happiness and their grief. Having never read the novel, I do not know quite who to praise, whether it be the original story or the adaptation, but the filmmakers have ensured every fine detail is correct. There are no errors in the chronology (save one), even down to dates on gravestones. Each connection from one location to another is plausible and well-worked. The Jewish scenes are faultless, including the passages in Hebrew. The traits within each character never waver, and are even given depth and history, no more so than Giselle's selfishness and her father's mercenary ways. The interplay between the characters is perfect as well, such as between Sam and Ruth. We sympathise with both sides of their debate as they try to do the best for their son. The strong female themes that run stronger and stronger through the film are entirely realistic, with so many different women, each with strengths and flaws, crossing our characters' paths.

For me, this film appeals on so many different levels. As someone fascinated by World War II history, is shows a stark reality often forgotten for those of us on the winning side. As a genealogist, the detective work of finding individuals is thrilling. As a Jew, Ariana's involvement with a Jewish family is the right mix of touching and nervy. As a hopeless romantic, and one who loves chick-flicks, this is a must, and I cry every time!