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

Nabokov Lite

This movie is absolutely beautiful to watch, with its magnificent old-world settings through which Luzhin, the obsessed chess grandmaster, moves in oblivious cerebration. Emily Watson is excellent as the beautiful young woman who tries to stay Luzhin's descent into insanity, and John Turturro does his best with Luzhin himself.

But I don't think Vladimir Nabokov would've liked this movie much. For one thing, the pop-psychologizing the screenplay inflicts on Luzhin blurs and ultimately ruins the purity of his madness. And there is the matter of Luzhin's name. Throughout the novel, for reasons that become clear as you read it, he is known only as "Luzhin," even to his wife, until, on the very last page, we learn his name and patronymic, "Aleksandr Ivanovich." But in the movie, everyone calls him Aleksandr Ivanovich; his wife even calls him "Sascha." Huge mistake.

Worst of all, the happy/sappy ending, with its preposterous posthumous victory for Luzhin, is so far removed from the tragedy of Nabokov's novel that it's actually offensive. I assume Nabokov's ending was deemed too stark and horrifying.