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

Something is missing...

The movie is beautifully photographed, costumed, acted and directed--so why was this such a let down to see?

Granted, Nabakov's book is very cerebral and driven by the inner turmoil of Luzhin's mind. Translating such mental dynamism to a movie would be very difficult. Alternately, the approach taken by the film seems like it could have worked on its own level, and one has to wonder why it was allowed to fail. My guess is that there was pressure to cut this movie down to a shorter length, perhaps figuring that audiences could only take so much of the tortured main character's wailings. There are numerous instances of poorly done cuts (not in keeping with the rest of the film) where scenes look as if they were chopped short in mid-stride, as if to get to the end faster. I don't mean to be flip here either, but there are such significant gaps in character development that one has to imagine that the released film is not what the directors and writers had in mind. As a result, we never appreciate fully either the nature of Luzhin's inner torment, or the motivations of the villainous Valentinov (who is just so cruel that his motivations demand some fleshing out).

The sentimental ending (which predictably is not based on anything in Nabakov's novel) fits in awkwardly with the rest of the film, though it does at least fit. Considering the movie's terse treatment of its characters, the more pointed ending supplied by Nabakov would have come off as unsatisfying and hollow.