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Anna to the Infinite Power (1983) Plot Summary & Timeline

Anna to the Infinite Power (1983) movie poster

Anna to the Infinite Power is a 1983 sci-fi and drama film directed by Robert Wiemer, running 1 hour 41 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 636 words (about 3 minutes to read) and covers 15 key events in order, 5 characters, where and when it is set and 3 themes. Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for Anna to the Infinite Power.

to read the plot summary
3 min
key events in the timeline
15
characters profiled
5
themes explained
3
Anna to the Infinite Power (1983) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 41m
Director
Robert Wiemer
Genres
Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller
Original language
English
No spoilers

What Is Anna to the Infinite Power About?

The premise of Anna to the Infinite Power in 310 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In the quiet suburb of Flemington, New Jersey, a twelve‑year‑old prodigy named Anna Hart navigates a world that feels simultaneously ordinary and uncanny. Enrolled in a school for gifted children, she excels at mathematics and music while harboring quirky habits—pilfering small objects, flinching at flickering lights, and waking from vivid, almost prophetic dreams. These nocturnal visions whisper of a larger puzzle hidden beneath the surface of her everyday life, giving the film a tone that blends cerebral curiosity with an undercurrent of unease.

When a new neighbor moves in next door, a piano teacher named Michaela Dupont begins to observe Anna with a quiet intensity. Michaela keeps a collection of photographs, including a grainy image of a girl from the 1970s who bears an uncanny resemblance to Anna. The presence of this duplicate portrait hints at a lineage or echo that stretches far beyond the present day, suggesting that Anna’s remarkable talents might be part of something older and more intricate.

One ordinary afternoon, a forced landing of a commuter plane triggers a local news broadcast that shows a girl identical to Anna—Anna Smithson—walking through a bustling terminal. The sight sends ripples through Anna’s already restless mind, urging her to question the origins of her own identity and the strange synchronicities that seem to follow her. The film drifts between the bright halls of the gifted school, the hushed rooms of Michaela’s piano studio, and the shadowy corners of Anna’s own thoughts, creating a atmosphere where reality feels slightly out of focus.

Supporting her on this quiet quest is her older brother, Rowan, whose protective instincts and occasional mischief provide a grounding counterpoint to Anna’s introspective wanderings. Together, they navigate a labyrinth of family history, secret photographs, and the enigmatic presence of Michaela, all while the world around them hums with the promise of hidden truths waiting to be uncovered.

Full plot

What Happens in Anna to the Infinite Power?

The complete story of Anna to the Infinite Power, from the first scene to the last, in 636 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.

Spoilers ahead

Anna Hart is a twelve-year-old from Flemington, New Jersey, who attends a school for gifted children. She is a true prodigy, yet her brilliance comes with a stubborn streak: she can be a clever kleptomaniac who teases her teachers, and she endures headaches when she fixates on fires or flickering lights. Her nights are haunted by strange, prophetic dreams that hint at something larger lurking behind her family’s history. When a piano teacher named Michaela Dupont moves in next door, Anna’s world begins to tilt even more. Michaela has been watching Anna closely and keeps photos of her—and of a lookalike girl from 1970—tied to a past that seems to echo in the present. Then, a shocking moment arrives: Anna sees her exact double on local TV after a commuter plane makes a forced landing nearby. The other girl is named Anna Smithson, and she shares a family background that mirrors Anna’s—born from a scientist and a musician’s union of talents.

As Anna digs deeper, she uncovers a path that connects her to a woman named Anna Zimmerman, who died twenty years earlier. She learns that she herself was part of Zimmerman’s cloning project and that she is fated to grow into a replica of Zimmerman. The revelations do not stop there: Anna discovers that her mother volunteered for the cloning endeavor, while her father refused to participate. The more Anna probes into this lineage, the more she dreams of Zimmerman’s past—growing up in Nazi-occupied Germany during World War II, where she, like Anna, was a pianist and a child prodigy who might have played a role in the Nazis’ plans for engineering the future of humanity. With this heavier sense of identity, Anna begins to behave more like a typical child, all while continuing to search for the truth with the quiet help of her brother Rowan and the secret support from Michaela.

When Anna’s mother and father decide to take her to a facility on Albacore Island for a few days of evaluation, the investigation takes a darker turn. Inside the island compound, Anna finds the phone in her room blocked and ends up locked in her chamber. She manages to bolt the door from the inside and, while sneaking around, notices other rooms where the other Annas are housed. The atmosphere grows tense as she overhears Dr. Barrett and a nurse discussing failed experiments and the plan to dispose of the girls.

Rowan helps by calling Anna and pretending to be Dr. Jelliff, and he somehow sneaks into the facility to reunite with his sister. The siblings confront Dr. Jelliff, the man who has continued Zimmerman’s cloning program, who claims that Anna is now a “normal” person and even suggests she change her name to begin a new life. Yet the danger isn’t over for long. After Anna and Rowan depart, Jelliff reveals, to Michaela (the person tasked with guiding each Anna’s progress), that he has been secretly grooming another Anna to become the future Zimmerman and that their plan is to wipe out the remaining five Annas—including Hart and her family.

The plot twists dramatically when Michaela unveils her true identity as Anna Parkhurst, the original product of Zimmerman’s cloning project and the girl who resembled Anna in the 1970 photograph. Parkhurst’s anger at the experiments—and her intimate knowledge of how to create a replicator—gives her leverage. She offers Jelliff a deal: the plans for the replicator in exchange for the safety of all the Annas and a secure location where she can continue her work unimpeded, along with a sealed report to be released should anyone come to harm. The story ends with Jelliff weighing this unexpected proposal, his plans now caught in a high-stakes balancing act between control and survival for everyone involved in the shadowy world of cloned lives.

Timeline

Anna to the Infinite Power Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

15 key events in the order they happen, from “Anna Hart's Gifted, Troubled Life” to “Seal and Secrecy”. 14 events name a place, across 8 locations.

  1. 1

    Anna Hart's Gifted, Troubled Life

    Twelve-year-old Anna Hart lives in Flemington, New Jersey, where she is a genius but a kleptomaniac who insults teachers. She experiences headaches when she stares at fires or flickering lights and is haunted by prophetic dreams that hint at a larger destiny.

    When:present day Where:Flemington, New Jersey

  2. 2

    Michaela Dupont Moves In Next Door

    Piano teacher Michaela Dupont has been watching Anna and then moves in next door, bringing unsettling clues about a similar-looking girl photographed in 1970. She has kept photos of Anna and the other girl, suggesting a link that stretches across decades. Michaela's arrival signals that Anna's past may be closer than she thought.

    When:present day Where:Neighborhood

  3. 3

    Anna Spots Her Double on Local News

    Anna sees her exact double on local TV after a commuter plane makes a forced landing nearby. She learns that this double, Anna Smithson, has the same family background—a scientist father and musician mother—that Anna herself shares. The sight raises questions about a hidden connection between the two lives.

    When:present day Where:Local TV news

  4. 4

    Discovery of Zimmerman's Clone

    Anna uncovers that Anna Zimmerman, thought dead for 20 years, was part of a cloning project run by Zimmerman and that Anna herself could grow into a duplicate of Zimmerman. The revelation deepens the mystery of her origin and the people pursuing it.

    When:present

  5. 5

    Parents' Involvement in the Past

    Anna learns that her mother volunteered for the cloning project while her father wanted nothing to do with it, hinting at a family history tangled with the experiments. The parents’ choices set the stage for Anna's uncertain future. The knowledge shifts Anna's search from self-discovery to uncovering motives behind the project.

    When:present Where:Home

  6. 6

    Dreams of Zimmerman's WWII Past

    Anna dreams of Zimmerman's life during World War II in Nazi-controlled Germany, where she was a Jew, a pianist, and a child prodigy who would be drawn into the Nazis' genetic plans. The dreams connect Anna's present to a dangerous historical lineage and reveal how talent and fate intersect in her story.

    When:World War II era Where:Germany, WWII era

  7. 7

    Anna's Normalizing Turn

    As the past unfolds, Anna begins behaving more like a normal child, even as she continues to investigate her background with secret help from her brother Rowan and Michaela. The shift contrasts with the weight of the discoveries surrounding her origins.

    When:present Where:Home

  8. 8

    Trip to Albacore Island for Evaluation

    Anna's parents take her to a facility on Albacore Island for a few days of evaluation by the project organizers. The trip marks a formal step in judging her progression and the ongoing cloning work surrounding her existence.

    When:present Where:Albacore Island

  9. 9

    Lockdown and Hidden Annas

    While at the island, Anna finds the phone in her room blocked and is locked in; she eventually blocks the door and discovers other rooms housing multiple Annas. The confinement reveals the scale of the experiments and the danger to the girls involved.

    When:present Where:Albacore Island facility

  10. 10

    Rowan’s Impromptu Rescue

    Rowan calls Anna by pretending to be Dr. Jelliff, and when the line is cut, he sneaks into the facility to see his sister and warn her. His covert intervention exposes cracks in the operation and underscores their family bond.

    When:present Where:Albacore Island facility

Show the other 5 events of Anna to the Infinite Power
  1. 11

    Confrontation with Dr. Jelliff

    Anna and Rowan confront Dr. Jelliff, who tells Anna that she is now a 'normal' person and suggests she should change her name to start a new life. The encounter reveals Jelliff’s diminishing regard for Anna as a unique individual and his desire to control the next phase of the project.

    When:present Where:Albacore Island facility

  2. 12

    Jelliff Targets a New Anna

    Jelliff reveals to Michaela that he is secretly grooming another Anna to grow into the future Zimmerman and that he plans to kill the remaining five Annas, including Hart and her family. The murderous scheme escalates the danger facing everyone involved.

    When:present Where:Albacore Island facility

  3. 13

    Michaela Is Anna Parkhurst, the Original

    Michaela reveals herself as Anna Parkhurst, the original product of Zimmerman's cloning, and explains how to create the replicator. Enraged by the experiments, she offers Jelliff the replicator plans in exchange for the safety of all Annas and a hidden location to continue her work.

    When:present Where:Albacore Island facility

  4. 14

    Jelliff Weighs the Offer

    With Michaela's counter-offer on the table, Jelliff weighs the possibility of sparing the Annas against continuing his execution plans, leaving the outcome in suspense. The negotiation shifts the balance of power and raises the question of who will control the future of the clones.

    When:present Where:Albacore Island facility

  5. 15

    Seal and Secrecy

    The story closes with the promise of a sealed report at an undisclosed location and a safe harbor for Parkhurst to continue her work, leaving the fate of the remaining Annas unresolved. The offer hints at a fragile, hidden peace behind the science-driven nightmare.

    When:unknown Where:Undisclosed location

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in Anna to the Infinite Power?

5 characters, among them Anna Hart (Martha Byrne), Dr. Jelliff (Jack Gilford) and Michaela Dupont (Donna Mitchell): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.

  • AH

    Anna Hart (Martha Byrne)

    Played by Martha Byrne

    Twelve-year-old Anna is a gifted, tempestuous student who clashes with teachers and exhibits headaches when exposed to fires and flickering lights. She experiences prophetic dreams that hint at a hidden past and drives her to uncover her origins. Her journey centers on identity, family history, and the truth behind the cloning program.

    • 🧠 Gifted
    • 🗺️ Troubled
    • 🪄 Dreamer
  • Jack Gilford as Dr. Jelliff (Jack Gilford) in Anna to the Infinite Power

    Dr. Jelliff (Jack Gilford)

    Played by Jack Gilford

    A scientist overseeing the ongoing cloning experiments, he is relentless, secretive, and morally flexible in pursuit of control over the Annas. He schemes to manipulate or eliminate copies to safeguard his project. His actions propel the conflict toward a confrontation with those who oppose him.

    • 🧪 Scientist
    • 🗡️ Ruthless
    • 🧭 Obsessive
  • MD

    Michaela Dupont (Donna Mitchell)

    Played by Donna Mitchell

    A piano teacher who has observed Anna and kept photos of a near-identical girl from 1970. She moves in next door and becomes central to uncovering the truth about the Annas. She ultimately reveals herself as Anna Parkhurst, the original product of the cloning program, flipping the power dynamic.

    • 🎼 Musician
    • 🧩 Secretive
    • 🕵️‍♀️ Investigative
  • RH

    Rowan Hart (Mark Patton)

    Played by Mark Patton

    Anna’s brother, a brave and loyal ally who helps navigate the dangerous world behind the cloning project. He takes risks by reaching out to Dr. Jelliff and by supporting his sister in the face of peril. His actions emphasize family bonds and protective courage.

    • 🧒 Sibling
    • 🧭 Brave
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Resourceful
  • SH

    Sarah Hart (Dina Merrill)

    Played by Dina Merrill

    Anna’s mother, who volunteered for the cloning program and carries critical knowledge about the genetic experiments. Her decisions set up the conflict and moral questions that drive the plot. She becomes a key figure in deciding what is ethically permissible for her daughter and for science.

    • 👩‍👧 Mother
    • 🧠 Determined
    • 🕊️ Protective
Setting

Where and When Is Anna to the Infinite Power Set?

Anna to the Infinite Power is set in Flemington, New Jersey and Albacore Island (Present-day with World War II flashbacks). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.

When

Present-day with World War II flashbacks

The action primarily takes place in contemporary times, anchored by a 1970 photograph linked to Anna’s origins. Flashbacks reveal Zimmerman's experiences in Nazi-era Germany, explaining the roots of the cloning program. The story crosses these periods to explore memory, identity, and scientific ambition.

Where

Flemington, New Jersey, Albacore Island

The story unfolds in Flemington, New Jersey, focusing on a school for gifted children and a quiet, suburban environment. It also takes the narrative to Albacore Island, a remote facility where the cloning experiments occur. The juxtaposition of a welcoming town with a secret laboratory heightens the tension around the moral stakes of the project.

  • 🏙️ Small-town setting
  • 🧪 Hidden research facility
Themes

What Are the Themes of Anna to the Infinite Power?

3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Duplicated Self, Bioethics and Family Secrets.

  1. 01

    Duplicated Self

    Identity is tested by the existence of multiple clones and look-alikes. The film asks what makes a person unique when copies exist and memories blur across generations. Differences among the Annas reveal both resilience and fragility of the self under scientific manipulation. The narrative follows how individuals fight to define themselves amid replication.

  2. 02

    Bioethics

    Cloning and human experimentation raise urgent moral questions about consent, harm, and accountability. Dr. Jelliff’s extreme plans illustrate the dangers of unchecked power in research. The story challenges the idea that scientific progress justifies unethical methods. It pushes viewers to consider who should hold responsibility for replicated lives.

  3. 03

    Family Secrets

    Hidden pasts surface through memories from 1970 and revelations about a cloning program. The family's involvement exposes loyalties, guilt, and the cost of keeping dangerous truths secret. The interplay between biology and kinship reshapes how characters relate to one another. The resolution hinges on uncovering Parkhurst’s role and protecting the remaining Annas.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is Anna to the Infinite Power?

Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a complex story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Dark
Pacing
Steady
Story
Complex
Intensity
High
Ending
Ambiguous

A steadily tense and unsettling sci-fi thriller that follows a gifted girl's dark journey of self-discovery, revealing a horrifying legacy of human cloning linked to Nazi eugenics.

  • paranoid
  • claustrophobic
  • unsettling
  • melancholic
  • mysterious
  • anxious
  • cloning
  • genetic engineering
  • identity crisis
  • child prodigy

Content notes: child endangerment, human experimentation, confinement, references to nazi eugenics.

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Where to watch

Where to Watch Anna to the Infinite Power

Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Shout! Factory. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

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FAQ

Anna to the Infinite Power Plot Questions

5 quick answers about Anna to the Infinite Power, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is Anna to the Infinite Power about?

In the quiet suburb of Flemington, New Jersey, a twelve‑year‑old prodigy named Anna Hart navigates a world that feels simultaneously ordinary and uncanny.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does Anna to the Infinite Power take place?

Anna to the Infinite Power is set in Flemington, New Jersey and Albacore Island (Present-day with World War II flashbacks). The action primarily takes place in contemporary times, anchored by a 1970 photograph linked to Anna’s origins. Flashbacks reveal Zimmerman's experiences in Nazi-era Germany, explaining the roots of the cloning program.

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in Anna to the Infinite Power?

The story follows Anna Hart (Martha Byrne) (played by Martha Byrne), Dr. Jelliff (Jack Gilford) (played by Jack Gilford), Michaela Dupont (Donna Mitchell) (played by Donna Mitchell) and Rowan Hart (Mark Patton) (played by Mark Patton); the character guide covers 5 characters in all.

All the characters

What are the main themes of Anna to the Infinite Power?

The summary picks out 3 themes: Duplicated Self, Bioethics and Family Secrets.

The themes explained

Who directed Anna to the Infinite Power?

Anna to the Infinite Power (1983) was directed by Robert Wiemer and runs 1 hour 41 minutes.

Robert Wiemer’s films

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