By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: Marleen Gorris
Starring: Emily Watson | Geraldine James | John Turturro | Stuart Wilson
Country: france, united_kingdom
Year: 2001
Running time: 108
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0211492
Diane says: “Based on Nabokov’s novel, this is a story of a Russian chess genius who is inept in every other sphere of life, except for winning the love of a young compatriot whom he meets at an Italian resort during a chess championship. Perfs by Emily Watson and John Turturro are excellent–of course, they’re doing their usual things as charming oddballs. I did find the film heavy-handed. The themes of memory and patterns, the nefarious former mentor, and the genius’ eccentric personality become too broad in a movie, I think. I’m sure they work better in the mind’s eye while reading it, and I plan to read the book. But wasn’t I watching a chess game with tears streaming down my cheeks!”
Stephen says: “‘LUZHIN DEFENCE isn’t bad, but it isn’t perfect either. Although I am beginning to try to think of the plot development as a sort of chess game, and maybe it makes a little more sense that way.”