IMDb RATING
6.8/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
Two worlds collide when an eccentric genius falls in love with a strong-willed society beauty.Two worlds collide when an eccentric genius falls in love with a strong-willed society beauty.Two worlds collide when an eccentric genius falls in love with a strong-willed society beauty.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 2 nominations
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe dramatic draw that takes place halfway through the film follows the obscure game Macht-Weenink 1930. The scene begins as Luzhin's opponent is in a losing position. Knowing he is ahead but with pressure mounting, Luzhin makes the amateur-grade blunder from the original game. He loses his knight for nothing. Having blown his chance to win, Luzhin forces a draw.
- GoofsIn his game as white against an unnamed opponent before the final, Luzhin is shown supposedly checkmating with Rd1-d8, which is an illegal move because his rook at d1 is pinned against his king on h1 by black's rook at c1.
- Quotes
Aleksandr Ivanovich Luzhin: There's a pattern emerging, a definite pattern. Not Turati. I repeat that game. I've beaten him. And his moves are repeated, repeated, repeated moves. I must keep track... of every second. Every second I must keep track of, every second.
Natalia Katkov: It sounds like such a lonely battle.
- SoundtracksJazz Suite No. 2: VI. Waltz 2
Written by Dmitri Shostakovich (as Dimitri Shostakovich)
Performed by Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest (as Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)
Conducted by Riccardo Chailly
By permission of Boosey & Hawkes Licensing
Courtesy of Decca Record Label Ltd.
Under license from Universal Special Markets
(p) 1992 Decca Records
Featured review
Albeit excellent in cinematography and actors' work, the movie stunned me by its almost complete unrelatedness to the famous (and one of the best) novel by Vladimir Nabokov. All the plot lines are put topsy-turvy, the spectacular intricacy of the plot is revealed in a straight line and all the intellectual play of Nabokov with the reader (false clues, not telling the reader the main character's first and middle name until the very last page of the novel, etc) are all gone from the film. The movie's ending is hilariously hollywoodish (and, of course, has nothing to do with the novel again). In one word, one can watch it if one hates Nabokov and has a penchant for twisted originals.
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Luzhin Defense
- Filming locations
- Budapest, Hungary(St Petersburg scenes)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,053,070
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $63,203
- Apr 22, 2001
- Gross worldwide
- $1,873,620
- Runtime1 hour 49 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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