I watched the miniseries “Inventing Anna” thinking how we human beings have failed as a society and we’ve been ruined by Capitalism. The new popular and controversial Netflix drama miniseries created and produced by Shonda Rhimes is inspired by true events published in the article “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People” by the journalist Jessica Pressler to New York magazine, involving a twentysomething ambitious Russian Anna Sorokin, who assumes the identity of Anna Delvey, a wealthy German heiress. She cons and cheats New York high society, such as socialites, businessmen, bankers, lawyers, artists etc. The series was released in February 2022 on the streaming platform and stars Julia Garner who plays Anna Sorokin, Arian Moayed, Anna Chlumsky, Alexis Floyd, Katie Lowes and Laverne Cox .
Even the story has some problems regarding the fact of not explore some vital aspects of the characters and the narrative itself transform the mini-series a bit flat, on the other hand, I like how the script plays with human being ambiguity. Each of the 9 episodes are focused on the characters who are victims and accomplices of Anna Delvey and her daring plan to win the trust of wealthy, powerful and influential people to help to achieve her goal: build up an unique and monumental arts social club to the elite. She makes any efforts to get what she wants. The real Anna Sorokin scammed more than $200,000 (£145k) from banks and luxury hotels. She used many rich people on her own benefit, but they also expected some rewards.
The opening of the episodes warns the audience in advance with the phrase “This story is completely true. Except for the parts that were totally invented” provoking the reflection about what it is true or false, genuine or hypocrisy. Julia Garner’ performance as Anna Sorokins is convincing with her ambiguous feature ” Is her good or bad young woman? “. “Would Anna be a victim of an oppressive, unequal, segregated, xenophobic, and misogynist system or would she be a cold bitch and psychopath raised by this classist social system? “Who are the right and the wrong ones”? These are questions that came up in my mind.
The characters that cross Anna’s life also have this characteristic of ambiguity in their personality traits, as they assume the roles of victims and culprits, like her friend Rachel Williams, played by Katie Lowes, or even her solicitor who takes advantages with their friendship. They are all involved in a game of interests, power, money, success, fame, and glamour. Of course, there’s an exception with the character Vivian Kent, played by actress Anna Chlumsky, who willing to regain her prestige as a journalist, and gets involved by Anna Sorokin secret life, proving to be the only character with any morals, but not at all.
Although the miniseries has some issues and it’s not spectacular, structurally or textually or doesn’t have a consistent tone, like not going deep into the social criticism of our class constructions society, its prejudices and injustices, and the world of appearances and futility under the endorsement of social media, “Inventing Anna” certainly fulfills its role of entertaining, intriguing and bringing up some reflection on the capitalist society we’ve created.
