The Luzhin Defence

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Film Description

Based upon Nabokov's story of troubled genius, this meditative film charts the unhappy life of a chess grandmaster spurned by his family and persecuted by his coach.

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DVD Extras

Widescreen. Featurette and trailer.

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Review by Paul Bowyer on 27th July 2001

Set in the 1920’s this is the story of a chess Grand Master (played superbly by Turturro) with an edgy grasp of reality returning to the Italian Lakes, scene of a childhood glimpse of his prodigy. What began as an escape from the trials and tribulations of his parents doomed marriage has become an all-consuming raison detre. Only winning will suffice but his world is irrevocably changed when he meets Natalie, she is a society beauty who’s only problem is her mothers constant match-making, but she is quickly drawn to the erratic yet sensitive genius and shows him there is a world that is not black and white. He though is ill equipped to deal with it. This visually stunning film, based on a story by Vladimir Nabokov is directed with tremendous panache by Marlene Gorris, and backed up by a strong cast, notably Geraldine James as Natalie’s mother, Orla Brady as Aunt Anna and particular mention must go to Alexander Hunting as the young Luzhin.

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This film is part of the following Film Collections

Female Directors

Including: A Ma Soeur, American Psycho, An Angel At My Table, Anatomy Of Hell, At Five In The Afternoon, Awakenings, Beau Travail, Beautiful Thing, Bend It Like Beckham, Better Than Chocolate.

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