Anna Karenina (1997)

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:

Love Triangle | Male Female Relationship | 19th Century | Mother Son Relationship | Atmospheric

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:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

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:

Sean Bean was chosen by the director (Bernard Rose) to play Count Vronsky because Rose had seen him playing the role of Richard Sharpe in the Sharpe's series on British television - the director thought he looked natural in a period-military uniform

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the movie, title cards inform the viewer that the story arch unfolds in the years 1880 to 1882 - yet at the end of the movie Vronsky leaves to fight in the Russo-Turkish war of 1877- 1878.

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:

Version of Anna Karenina (1967)

Soundtrack:

Elegie, op. 3/1

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.