Meena, a 12-year-old living in a mining village in the English Midlands in 1972, is the daughter of Indian parents who've come to England to give her a better life. This idyllic existence is upset by the arrival in the village of Anita Rutter and her dysfunctional family.

Anita & Me tells the tale of Meena Kumar, a twelve-year-old girl who is discovering life in a whole new light. She lives with her parents in a small mining town called Tollington, in the Black Country of England in the 1970's. She is forever dreaming of a life other than her own, something that her parents can't understand. They believe that she should be studying hard and learning about her Asian heritage. But Meena wants to be blonde and stylish, and looks to her diary as her only escape from the boredom of daily life. But she suddenly finds herself entranced when the Rutter family become her new neighbours. They're loud and brash, and Meena is drawn to eldest daughter Anita. She's fourteen, blonde, confident and outspoken, and Meena worships her. They are complete opposites, but they form a surprising friendship. Anita and some of the local girls have a gang, and Meena is allowed to join. She is naturally thrilled, and they convene in a den in a sprawling wood that supposedly belongs to a Yeti. There, they read Jackie magazine, paint their toenails and dream of what life will be like when they grow up. But Anita is older, and desires boys and life in the fast lane, and soon finds those pastimes more interesting than Meena. Meanwhile, Meena's parents are facing the brunt of racism, and get worried that Meena will go off the rails. They ultimately forbid Meena from socialising with Anita, and try and immerse her in more worthy activities. They slowly drift apart, but Meena soon discovers what Anita has been doing since, and things become very tense. What could have been a lifelong friendship may soon turn nasty, and there are many shocking things yet to come. 　　After much anticipation of Anita & Me being a brilliant film, it ended up being disappointingly average. It wasn't a dismal experience, and there were many moments to be savoured, but it's no classic. Since this was an adaptation of Meera Syal's celebrated novel, it should have been sensational. Not to be, I'm afraid. The one big problem I did have with the film was how, in a way, amateurish it all was. The sentiment and spirit of what could have been a touching story was lost by numerous poor factors. The performances were a mixed bag, ranging from the wonderful to the abysmal. Chandeep Uppal doesn't make a great impression as Meena. Since her character has the task of carrying the film and bringing us into her world, there has to be a level of sophistication, regardless of whether she may be twelve or eighty. Uppal's narration is monotonous and dreary, and there's barely any emotion to be seen on her face throughout. Anna Brewster manages to fare worse as Anita. It's hard to take that she has enamoured Meena, since she is nothing but wooden at all times. Since they are the central characters, they need to be interesting, yet turn out to be anything but. The supporting cast, in contrast, are excellent, but not given nearly enough time to shine. Sanjeev Bhaskar and Ayesha Dharker are effective as Meena's parents, Max Beesley makes a brief but amusing appearance as a local rocker, and Meera Syal and Omid Djalili are hilarious as Meena's overbearing aunt and uncle. But the best performances, naturally, come from Kathy Burke and Lynn Redgrave. Burke's appearance is fleeting, but lights up the whole affair as Anita's acid-tongued mother. Redgrave is also sumptuous as the local shopkeeper, who despises the reverend's attempts to set up a charity fund for babies in Africa and delights in showing Meena postcards from her daughter's travels. Whilst the piece is set in the early '70's, it is only fitting that there should be an appropriate soundtrack. Even though the chosen songs are good, they become unbearable at times. They cloud over the rest of the film, and are totally out of place at times. The direction is fine, if not perfect, and overall, Anita & Me ends up being a passable slice of entertainment. It's a shame really, as it could have been so much more. While this hasn't been the biggest disappointment I've had regarding a film this year, it's still not a memorable one. A nice film, but not spectacular.

Anita is the story of a young woman with Down syndrome who lives a happy, routine life in Buenos Aires, being meticulously cared for by her mother Dora. One tragic morning in 1994, everything changes when Anita is left alone, confused and helpless after the nearby Argentine Israelite Mutual Association is bombed (the deadliest bombing in Argentina's history). As Anita wanders through the city, she learns not only to care for herself, but touches the lives of those around her, from an alcoholic to a family of Asian immigrants.

Anita's boyfriend Mitchell dumped her after 3.5 years for Heather. All she can think about is humiliating him, mostly in poems that are bitter, banal, and hilarious.

Giuseppe Garibaldi (Gabriel Braga Nunes), 32 years old, commander of the republican rebels that invade Laguna, Santa Catarina, during the Farrapos War (1835 - 1845), finds his soul mate in Anita (Ana Paula Arósio), 18 years old, wife of local shoemaker. Between passion and battles, they will define the course of their lives and influence the course of the revolution.

In a small South Korean village, while investigating the death of two people in strange circumstances, a grumpy policeman will live an overwhelming experience beyond the reality he has known so far.

After World War II, Anita, a young survivor of Auschwitz, becomes involved in an intense and passionate affair that almost shatters her until she gains the strength to start a new life.

In modern-day Berlin (1987), Frau Kutowski goes insane, believing herself to be the (real-life) notorious Anita Berber, a nude art dancer/drug addict/scandalous figure of post-WWI Berlin. (Berber died of tuberculosis in 1928, having achieved significant success and recognition throughout the dance world.) Frau Kutowski is placed in a mental hospital, where in her own mind she acts out Berber's final days, including in her fantasies the hospital's staff and patients, to represent Anita's friends and associates.

A rebellious high school student sees his life take a strange turn when he goes to the grocery store and someone leaves a baby in his shopping cart, along with a note claiming he's the father.

Takuya Enoki is living a difficult life for a fifth grader. His mother passed away in a tragic car accident a few months ago, forcing him to pick up the slack and take care of his baby brother, Minoru, as his father works the endless hours typical of a Japanese salaryman.He will have to sacrifice his childhood in order to meet the needs of his little brother. Cooking, cleaning, worrying, and trying to discipline Minoru are some of the tasks Takuya will have on his plate, all while their neighbors blame him for Minoru’s constant crying. Meanwhile, he will watch as his friends live their carefree lives, enjoying their free time. It will not be easy and there will be plenty of stumbling blocks, but along the way, he may actually learn the true meaning of family.