The Luzhin Defence (2000)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Marleen Gorris

Writers:

Vladimir Nabokov (novel)
Peter Berry (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 September 2000 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Two worlds collide when an eccentric genius falls in love with a strong-willed society beauty.

Plot Keywords:

Chess | Genius | Lake | 1920s | Obsession

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

John Turturro	...	Aleksandr Ivanovich 'Sascha' Luzhin
Emily Watson	...	Natalia Katkov
Geraldine James	...	Vera, Natalia's Mother
Stuart Wilson	...	Leo Valentinov
Christopher Thompson	...	Jean de Stassard
Fabio Sartor	...	Dottore Salvatore Turati
Peter Blythe	...	Ilya
Orla Brady	...	Aunt Anna
Mark Tandy	...	Luzhin's Father
Kelly Hunter	...	Luzhin's Mother
Alexander Hunting	...	Young Aleksandr Luzhin
Alfredo Pea	...	1st Official
Fabio Pasquini	...	2nd Official
Luigi Petrucci	...	Santucci
Carlo Greco	...	Hotel Manager

Also Known As:

La défense Loujine (France)
The Luzhin Defense (USA) (cable TV title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality and thematic elements.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Spain:13 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bergamo, Lombardia, Italy

Company:

C.R.G. International

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: A camera operator's reflection is in the window just after Luzhin walks past a piano (about 30 minutes in).

Quotes:

Vera: He's defiled you already, hasn't he? That's why you're rushing this ridiculous marriage. You're carrying his child.

Soundtrack:

Waltz 2

Poor Nabokov

The brilliant, deep psychological novel was reduced to a melodrama. What exactly the film writers were thinking? That the audience is mentally and emotionally handicapped? Or they themselves didn't understand anything from the novel? Or was it just easier to take the novel's title and characters names, add a bunch of cliches and put together a "Shine"-like "intellectual" melodrama? Judging by the number of positive responses here they succeeded. There is only one problem: the film has nothing to do with the novel. Indeed, how would they make a commercially successful movie about a fat unattractive man who marries a dull woman who doesn't understand him? Yeah, let's turn the loser into a winner, even after the death, substitute the dull wife for an understanding fiancée, throw in an antagonist, add costumes, remove thoughts and we have an "amazing, definitely worth seeing" movie. Who cares about being faithful to Nabokov -- he's dead.

Either the film writers are brain-dead or they think that the audience is. Yes, people seem to like pseudo-intellectual films based on the novels they never read. But exploiting this weakness is a shame!