Ana Karenina (2012)

In late-19th-century Russian high society, St. Petersburg aristocrat Anna Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the dashing Count Alexei Vronsky.

Director:

Joe Wright

Writers:

Tom Stoppard (screenplay), Lev Tolstoy (novel) (as Leo Tolstoy)

Stars:

Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Won 1 Oscar. Another 31 wins & 53 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew Macfadyen	...	Oblonsky
Eric MacLennan	...	Matvey
Kelly Macdonald	...	Dolly
Theo Morrissey	...	Grisha Oblonsky
Cecily Morrissey	...	Lili Oblonsky
Freya Galpin	...	Masha Oblonsky
Octavia Morrissey	...	Tanya Oblonsky
Beatrice Morrissey	...	Vasya Oblonsky
Marine Battier	...	Mlle. Roland
Keira Knightley	...	Anna Karenina
Guro Nagelhus Schia	...	Annushka
Aruhan Galieva	...	Aruhan
Jude Law	...	Karenin
Carl Grose	...	Korney
Bryan Hands	...	Mikhail Slyudin

Storyline

In 1874, in the Imperial Russia, the aristocratic Anna Karenina travels from Saint Petersburg to Moscow to save the marriage of her brother Prince Oblonsky, who had had a love affair with his housemaid. Anna Karenina has a cold marriage with her husband, Count Alexei Karenin, and they have a son. Anna meets the cavalry officer Count Vronsky at the train station and they feel attracted by each other. Soon she learns that Vronsky will propose to Kitty, who is the younger sister of her sister-in-law Dolly. Anna satisfactorily resolves the infidelity case of her brother and Kitty invites her to stay for the ball. However, Anna Karenina and Vronsky dance in the ball, calling the attention of the conservative society. Soon they have a love affair that will lead Anna Karenina to a tragic fate.

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Plot Keywords:

dance | imperial russia | character name as title | anna karenina character | saint petersburg russia | 

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Taglines:

You can't ask Why about love

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

M/12

Did You Know?

Trivia

Inspired by Orlando Figes's 2002 production of Natasha's Dance, Joe Wright adopted an experimental approach to convey the essence of the story. The majority of the film was shot on a "run-down" theater built from scratch in Shepperton. Locations such as a skating rink, train station and stables were dressed on top of the theater. To create fluid linearity, doors open onto Russian landscapes; some actors walk from one set to another under the stage. For cutaway wide exterior shots, toy trains and doll houses were used. The only main cast member who is allowed to venture out of the theater is Domhnall Gleeson (Levin) because Wright wanted to amplify the fact that Levin is the only authentic character in the group.

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Goofs

The movie opens in "1875 Imperial Russia". A few minutes later, a self-propelled model train is seen in action. Clockwork model trains were first introduced by the pioneering German toy company Marklin in 1891.

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Quotes

Alexei Karenin: Is this about my wife? My wife is beyond reproach. She is, after all, my wife.

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Connections

Referenced in On Cinema: 'Twilight: Part Two' and 'Anna Karenina' (2012)

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Soundtracks

Song for a New Life (Masha's Song)
(uncredited)
Written by Anoushka Shankar
Performed by Tannishtha Chatterjee

User Reviews

The best Anna Karenina I have seen

First. What is a definition of the word "critical art review"? Review is imposition of individual opinion through the press. During my long life (I am 72) I have seen many performances on the stage and movies "Anna Karenina." This film is the best. It has everything that should be in the movie: fantasy, entertainment, teaching, and of course the classic love story. For me, personally, it is not always important "WHAT ABOUT", it is also important to me "HOW IT DONE." From my point of view, movie is entertainment. Of course those critics who finds fault with hairstyles or jewelry, they know better what they want from the movies. They always want to hear a Russian accent and see plausible buttons on the dress. But this is not a police report, this is feature film. Visual aspects are amazingly talented. Acting work- to the point of perfection. First time in my life I saw real Karenin, not half-dead old man, but a loving decent husband. Keira Knightley is impeccable as Anna. Сrowd scenes are tasteful. Music is touching and talented. Tolstoy's novel is very hard to adapt for a screen, it even difficult to read, and the director was able to convey the main thing in this beautiful and romantic movie. I agree with Berthold Brecht who said: "When you entertain -teach, and when you teach- entertain"." There is no doubt that this film is not for everyone, and those who like "Scream 2" or " Spiderman", they do not have to watch this movie. All critical reviews are long and tedious, but the film is short, with exciting feelings and has a good taste. There is only one measure of art: talented or not talented. The rest is a matter of taste. But there is no accounting for tastes.This film is talented in every way.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 December 2012 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Ana Karenina

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Studios Road, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$40,600,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$320,690, 18 November 2012

Gross USA:

$12,816,367

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$68,929,150

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1