Anna Karenina (1997)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Bernard Rose

Writers (WGA):

Leo Tolstoy (novel)
Bernard Rose (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Lover | Love | Husband Wife Relationship | St. Petersburg Russia | Aristocrat

Cast

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

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) | UK:15 (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Peru:14 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Moscow, Russia

Company:

Icon Entertainment International

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gossip Girl: It's a Wonderful Lie (#2.12)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Elegie, op. 3/1

not too bad

I will hereby join the legions of ladies (and perhaps some gents too?) that sat down to watch this version of Anna Karenina simply because of the presence of Sean Bean.

I have to say, I was not disappointed, though in this version Vronsky's screen-time is drastically reduced. I was very impressed with Alfred Molina and James Fox, both played their parts with conviction and in my opinion stayed true to the characters from the book. I wish I could say the same for Sophie Marceau, but unfortunately I found her rather shallow and annoying. Perhaps it was just because her accent was so out of place, but whatever the reason, I found her portrayal of Anna unrealistic and unsympathetic.

The best Anna Karenina that I have come across so far, is easily Vivian Leigh in the 1948 version, which to date I believe to be the best one yet. If you are looking for only one version of this movie to watch, I recommend that one, although it is of course sadly lacking the dashing Mr. Bean :-)