Anna (2019)

Last updated:
June 22, 2025

Luc Besson’s Anna (2019) is a slick, fast-paced spy thriller that blends action, deception, and psychological games in a classic espionage mold. Starring Sasha Luss in her breakout role, the film takes viewers through layers of manipulation, revenge, and survival in the shadowy world of international intelligence.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Anna’s Origins and Recruitment

Set during the Cold War’s final years, Anna follows Anna Poliatova (Sasha Luss), a young Russian woman with a traumatic past. Initially a broken figure trapped in an abusive relationship, Anna finds unexpected salvation when she’s recruited by KGB operative Alex Tchenkov (Luke Evans). He offers her a way out—if she becomes an assassin for the Soviet intelligence agency.

She agrees, and under the cold, watchful eye of KGB superior Olga (Helen Mirren), Anna is trained in espionage, combat, and seduction. Her new identity as a fashion model becomes the perfect cover for covert missions across Europe.

The Double Life

The film uses a non-linear storytelling approach, jumping between years to gradually reveal the full picture. What seems like a straightforward tale quickly becomes a web of lies. Anna’s missions get increasingly complex, and she finds herself spiraling between loyalties, all while desperately seeking freedom from a life she never truly chose.

Anna catches the eye of CIA agent Lenny Miller (Cillian Murphy) during a mission in Paris. Pretending to be a freelance asset, she begins a dangerous double game, feeding the CIA intel about the KGB while plotting her own escape from both agencies.

Playing Both Sides

Anna is constantly manipulated, first by the KGB, then by the CIA. But she proves to be more cunning than anyone anticipated. Her relationships—with fellow model Maud (Lera Abova), Alex, Lenny, and even Olga—are part affection, part strategy. Everyone around her underestimates her until it’s too late.

In one of the film’s most shocking scenes, Anna single-handedly takes down an entire room of armed men in a brutal fight choreographed with lethal precision. It’s a clear reminder that she’s far more than just a pretty face or a pawn.

Movie Ending (Spoilers Ahead)

In the final act, the cat-and-mouse game reaches its peak. Anna orchestrates an elaborate plan to escape both the KGB and CIA. She fakes her own death using a body double and vanishes without a trace, leaving both agencies stunned and outmaneuvered.

Olga confronts Anna earlier, seeming to have the upper hand, but it’s revealed that Anna anticipated every move. She plants fake evidence and gives both sides exactly what they want—convincing the CIA that she eliminated her KGB handlers, while ensuring Olga believes she killed the CIA contact.

The final twist shows that Olga, despite being furious, lets Anna go. She admires Anna’s ingenuity and strength, perhaps seeing her younger self in the girl. The last shot of Anna walking away into a new life is deliberately ambiguous—has she finally found freedom, or is she just entering another game?

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Anna does not have a post-credits scene. The story concludes with Anna’s fate seemingly resolved (though with some ambiguity), and there are no additional teasers or stingers during or after the credits.

Type of Movie

Anna is a spy thriller with heavy influences from action, drama, and psychological intrigue. It draws clear inspiration from films like La Femme Nikita and Atomic Blonde, focusing on femme-fatale archetypes and high-stakes espionage.

Cast

Sasha Luss as Anna Poliatova
Luke Evans as Alex Tchenkov
Cillian Murphy as Lenny Miller
Helen Mirren as Olga
Lera Abova as Maud
Alexander Petrov as Piotr

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Éric Serra, a frequent collaborator of Luc Besson. The music features tense, moody compositions that enhance the film’s cold and clinical tone, with occasional flourishes of emotion during key character moments.

Filming Locations

Anna was filmed in several European cities, including Moscow, Paris, and Prague. Each location is crucial to the espionage atmosphere:

Moscow represents Anna’s bleak beginnings and the oppressive grip of the KGB.
Paris serves as the glamorous front—fashion shows, romantic interludes, but also covert CIA operations.
Prague provides the classic Eastern Bloc ambiance, used in many of the undercover mission scenes.

Awards and Nominations

Anna did not garner major award nominations. While praised for its stylish direction and choreography, the film received mixed reviews and was largely overlooked during awards season.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Sasha Luss, previously a model, performed most of her own stunts.
Luc Besson returned to the spy genre after La Femme Nikita and Lucy, with Anna serving almost like a spiritual successor to both.
Helen Mirren reportedly improvised some of Olga’s more sardonic lines.
The film was shot during a period when Besson faced controversy, which likely impacted its marketing and reception.
The nonlinear storytelling structure was decided late in the editing phase to maximize tension and surprise.

Inspirations and References

Anna is heavily inspired by Besson’s earlier film La Femme Nikita (1990), essentially functioning as a modernized reinterpretation. The themes of state-sanctioned violence, female autonomy, and the illusion of choice are core to both stories.

The film also draws aesthetic and narrative influences from:

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No official alternate endings have been released, but Besson has stated in interviews that several scenes—mostly between Anna and Maud—were cut for pacing. These scenes reportedly explored Anna’s emotional life further, showing the toll of her dual identities.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Anna is not based on a book. However, its plot and character arcs echo many spy novels, particularly those involving female operatives trying to break free from government control (e.g., Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews).

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Anna’s restaurant assassination scene, executed in under 20 seconds.
The all-out brawl in a government office with hand-to-hand combat and creative weapon use.
The interrogation room standoff where Anna bluffs both the CIA and KGB.
The final meeting between Anna and Olga, charged with tension and grudging respect.

Iconic Quotes

Olga: “You want freedom? This is what it costs.”
Anna: “All I want is a life of my own choosing.”
Lenny: “She’s not a spy. She’s a storm.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Olga’s office contains several Soviet-era memorabilia that hint at her long service and past missions.
The name “Anna” may allude to “Anna Chapman,” the infamous real-life Russian spy.
The chessboard in Olga’s apartment is symbolic—every time we see it, a major move is about to happen in the story.

Trivia

Sasha Luss also appeared in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
Helen Mirren’s Russian accent was inspired by her own family heritage (she’s half Russian).
The film’s original cut was over 2.5 hours long before being trimmed to 119 minutes.
The script was originally written in French, then translated into English for international release.

Why Watch?

Watch Anna if you enjoy:

Female-led spy thrillers with brains and brutality.
Slick action scenes choreographed with flair.
Twisty narratives that reveal their secrets in layers.
A moody, cerebral exploration of trust, betrayal, and freedom.

It’s not just another action movie—it’s a Cold War chess match with high stakes and higher body counts.

Director’s Other Movies

Recommended Films for Fans

Red Sparrow (2018)
Atomic Blonde (2017)
La Femme Nikita (1990)
Salt (2010)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Spy Game (2001)

Anna (2019)