Makes up for a creaky structure with the intensity of emotion and psychological nuance provided by two of our finest screen actors.
The Luzhin Defence
Two worlds collide when an eccentric genius falls in love with a strong-willed society beauty.
2000 · 1h 49m · PG-13
Drama, Romance
Directed by
Marleen Gorris
Overview
Based upon the novel by Vladimir Nabokov, a chess grandmaster travels to Italy in the 1920s to play in a tournament and falls in love.
Director and cast
- Marleen Gorris Director
- John Turturro as Aleksandr Ivanovich 'Sascha' Luzhin
- Emily Watson as Natalia Katkov
- Geraldine James as Vera, Natalia's Mother
- Stuart Wilson as Valentionov
- Fabio Sartor as Turati
- Peter Blythe as Ilya
- Orla Brady as Anna
- Mark Tandy as Luzhin's Father
- Kelly Hunter as Luzhin's Mother
- Antonio Carli as Fascist
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
It plays a predictable, if pretty, game.
As brave as it is affecting.
When Luzhin's old chess teacher shows up, the movie becomes a slow-motion wreck.
If The Luzhin Defence falls short of being totally absorbing and compelling, it's surely because it's so difficult to translate Nabokov's view that we are all pawns in the big game.
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