Anna Karenina (1997)

Anna (Marceau) is a wife and mother who has an affair with the handsome Count Vronsky (Bean). Based on the novel by Tolstoy.

Director:

Bernard Rose

Writers:

Leo Tolstoy (novel), Bernard Rose (screenplay)

Stars:

Sophie Marceau, Sean Bean, Alfred Molina

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophie Marceau	...	Anna Karenina
Sean Bean	...	Vronsky
Alfred Molina	...	Levin
Mia Kirshner	...	Kitty
James Fox	...	Karenin
Fiona Shaw	...	Lydia
Danny Huston	...	Stiva
Phyllida Law	...	Vronskaya
David Schofield	...	Nikolai
Saskia Wickham	...	Dolly
Jennifer Hall	...	Betsy
Anna Calder-Marshall	...	Princess Schcherbatksy
Valerie Braddell	...	Ambassador's Wife
Petr Shelokhonov	...	Kapitonich (as Pyotr Sholokhov)
Niall Buggy	...	Doctor

Storyline

Anna is a young and elegant wife of Mr. Karenin, who is wealthy and old. She meets the handsome Count Vronsky. Anna and Vronsky fall in love with each other, and he comes to be with her in St. Petersburg. They are very happy together and make a great looking couple, but soon their happiness gets under social pressures. Anna is hopelessly begging Mr. Karenin for a divorce, but he wants to keep the mother of their child. She has another baby born from her lover Vronsky. Conflict between her untamed desires and painful reality causes her a depression and suicidal thoughts.

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Plot Keywords:

count | divorce | love | governess | passion | 

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Taglines:

In a world of power and privilege, one woman dared to obey her heart.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements and some sensuality/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

4 April 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina

Filming Locations:

Nikolaevsky Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$75,268 (USA) (4 April 1997)

Gross:

$791,830 (USA) (30 May 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Icon Entertainment International, Studio Trite, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first western production of "Anna Karenina" to be filmed in Russia (St. Petersburg).

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Goofs

Although the film claims to be set in the 1880s, the book must be set earlier than that because it was published in 1875.

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Quotes

Anna Karenina: What are you doing here?
Vronsky: You know that I have come to be where you are. I cannot help myself.

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Connections

Version of Il grande fuoco (1995)

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Soundtracks

"Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 35"
Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (as Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
Performed by The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Georg Solti (as Sir Georg Solti)
Maxim Vengerov, violin
Maxim Vengerov appears courtesy of Teldec Classics GmbH Hamburg
Courtesy of Icon Records and London Records

User Reviews

This is one of my favorites

I disagree that this was terrible. I am a big time historical movie and costume buff, so I watch everything I can get my hands on and there is hardly a period drama I have not seen. I have also read the book. While the story line of the movie doesn't necessarily follow the novel, I am still sucked into it every time I see it. I found their chemistry wonderful, the costumes lovely and very period accurate, the music and cinematography fabulous. I have seen it over a dozen times (bought the DVD) and STILL never get bored. Sophia Marceau was a perfect choice in my opinion. She is classically beautiful, and the right combination of all the elements that made her character.....chaste wife turned star crossed lover, strong, confidant woman melted to vulnerable young girl. I adored Sean Bean also. I found him totally believable, and I fail to understand how anyone even remotely interested in period dramas could fail to appreciate this film.