"I Am Anne Frank" is a two-part episode, consisting of the fourth and fifth episodes of the second season of the FX anthology television series American Horror Story. The first part aired on November 7, 2012, and the second aired on November 14, 2012. The first part is written by Jessica Sharzer and directed by Michael Uppendahl, and the second part is written by Brad Falchuk and directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. Both episodes are rated TV-MA (LSV).
"Part 2" was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards in Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie. The episodes' storylines follow a patient (Franka Potente) admitted to Briarcliff identifying herself as Anne Frank, as well as revealing the identity of the killer known as "Bloody Face". Chloë Sevigny guest stars as Shelley.
Plot
Part 1
A woman, identifying herself as Anne Frank, is brought to the Briarcliff asylum. She attacks Dr. Arden after finding him to be similar as the doctor of the Auschwitz concentration camp: Hans Grüper. Later, suspected serial murderer Kit begins to question his memory in a meeting with Dr. Thredson: although he is suspected to have killed many people, including his wife, he does not remember such events.
Thredson suggests that Lana take aversion therapy to cure her homosexuality. Although initially hesitant, Lana's therapy goes badly, and Thredson promises that he will take Lana when his asylum visit is over.
Arden confronts the woman who claims to be Anne Frank, who uses a stolen gun to injure Arden. Upon investigating his laboratory, the woman discovers a disfigured Shelley, who begs Anne to kill her.
Part 2
A man named Jim Brown arrives at the asylum claiming "Anne Frank" is his wife Charlotte, who has become obsessed with Anne's story. He takes her home but later returns her after she tries to smother their baby. Dr. Arden suggests Charlotte be lobotomized.
Kit is asked by Dr. Thredson to record his admission of the murders on tape. He claims this will help Kit believe what really happened, as well as aid any future legal action to permanently commit him and avoid the death penalty. The recording, in conjunction with Thredson's file, is later used in Kit's arrest for the murders.
Jude leaves the asylum after Arden tells her that he is pressing charges against her for allowing a patient to acquire a gun. Arden learns that Mary Eunice had removed the disfigured Shelley from his lab while his wound was being treated at the hospital. Shelley is found in a stairwell near a school playground.
Thredson manages to help Lana escape. At his home, Lana finds a lampshade made from human skin and a secret room with tools and drying skin. Thredson, who is revealed to be Bloody Face, traps Lana next to Wendy's frozen corpse.
At home, Charlotte appears as a normal wife and mother. She has packed away most of the clippings – but a photo shows a young Hans Grüper behind Adolf Hitler.
Production
The first part of "I Am Anne Frank" is written by co-executive producer Jessica Sharzer and directed by Michael Uppendahl, and the second part is written by co-creator Brad Falchuk and directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon.
In a November 2012 interview with Entertainment Weekly, series creator Ryan Murphy spoke on several episode topics. Regarding the pace of the two-parter and the rest of the season episodes, he said, "American Horror Story is always about a slow rollout of the season of reveals. The pace of these two is a little slower. The scenes are longer and I think more thoughtful than the pace of the first three. These are two of my favorite episodes in the history of the show. Also, in these episodes, I think we really understand the world a little more and what we're trying to write about which is the horror of the insane asylum back in the '50s and '60s and the degradation and the abuse, the real-life horrors. I think we really hit that in a great way in the Anne Frank story."