The Luzhin Defence

1h 46m 2000

Brief Synopsis

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Set in the late 1920s, Luzhin is a shambling, unworldly chess Grand Master who arrives in the Italian Lakes to play the match of his life and unexpectedly finds the love of his life. Discovering his prodigious talent in boyhood overshadowed by his parents' failing marriage, Luzhin's lyrical passion

Cast & Crew

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Marleen Gorris

Director

John Turturro

Alexander Luzhin

Emily Watson

Natalia

Geraldine James

Vera

Stuart Wilson

Valentinov

Christopher Thompson

Comte Jean De Stassard

Film Details

Also Known As
Alexander y Natalia, Defense loujine, La, La Defense loujine, La Partita - La Difesa di Luzhin, Lushins Verteidigung, Luzhin Defense, Partita - La Difesa di Luzhin, defensa Luzhin
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Drama
Period
Romance
Release Date
2000
Production Company
France 2 Cinéma; France 3 Cinéma; Technicolor; Tf1 Films Productions; Union Generale; Vulcan Productions
Distribution Company
Sony Pictures Classics; Contender Entertainment; Cts; Entertainment Film Distributors, Ltd.; Eurocine; Kinepolis Film Distribution; RCV Distribution; Sony Pictures Classics; Sony Pictures Home Entertainment; Ufd; Videocine; Warner Bros. Pictures International
Location
Bergamo, Italy; Budapest, Hungary; Lake Como, Italy; Offaly, Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Kildare, Ireland; Lake Como, Italy; Maryland, USA; Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 46m

Synopsis

Set in the late 1920s, Luzhin is a shambling, unworldly chess Grand Master who arrives in the Italian Lakes to play the match of his life and unexpectedly finds the love of his life. Discovering his prodigious talent in boyhood overshadowed by his parents' failing marriage, Luzhin's lyrical passion for chess has become his refuge and rendered the real world a phantom. Already matched up by her family to the very suitable Comte de Stassard, when Natalia meets Luzhin she is drawn to the erratic genius and offers him a glimpse outside of his chess obsession. But it is a world he is not equipped to deal with, and his two worlds collide to tragic effect.

Director

Marleen Gorris

Director

Cast

John Turturro

Alexander Luzhin

Emily Watson

Natalia

Geraldine James

Vera

Stuart Wilson

Valentinov

Christopher Thompson

Comte Jean De Stassard

Fabio Sartor

Turati

Peter Blythe

Ilya

Orla Brady

Anna

Mark Tandy

Luzhin'S Father

Kelly Hunter

Luzhin'S Mother

Alexander Hunting

Young Luzhin

Alfredo Pea

1st Official

Fabio Pasquini

2nd Official

Luigi Petrucci

Santucci

Carlo Greco

Hotel Manager

Massimo Sarchielli

Tailor

Luca Foggiano

Fascist

Antonio Carli

Fascist

David Ambrosi

Fascist

Crew

Jody Allen

Executive Producer

Louis Becker

Producer

Peter Berry

Screenwriter

Tony Burrough

Production Designer

Sara-jane Cornish

Art Director

Alexandre Desplat

Original Music

Alexandre Desplat

Music

Alexandre Desplat

Music Conductor

Stephen Evans

Producer

Celestia Fox

Casting Director

Peter Glossop

Sound

Tommy Gormley

1st Assistant Director

Philippe Guez

Producer

John Hill

Supervising Art Director

Craig Irving

Sound

Claudia Kalindjian

Publicity

Bernard Lutic

Director Of Photography

Charles Mcdonald

Publicity

Vladimir Nabokov

Source Material

Vladimir Nabokov

Source Material (From Novel)

Leo Pescarolo

Co-Producer

Michiel Reichwein

Editor

Eric Robison

Co-Producer

Rosanna Roditi

Unit Production Manager

Roseann Samuel

Make-Up And Hair Designer

Lazlo Sipos

Unit Production Manager

Dominic Smithers

Set Decorator

Nathalie Tanner

Production Coordinator

Jany Temime

Costume Designer

Andrew Warren

Line Producer

Caroline Wood

Producer

Film Details

Also Known As
Alexander y Natalia, Defense loujine, La, La Defense loujine, La Partita - La Difesa di Luzhin, Lushins Verteidigung, Luzhin Defense, Partita - La Difesa di Luzhin, defensa Luzhin
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Drama
Period
Romance
Release Date
2000
Production Company
France 2 Cinéma; France 3 Cinéma; Technicolor; Tf1 Films Productions; Union Generale; Vulcan Productions
Distribution Company
Sony Pictures Classics; Contender Entertainment; Cts; Entertainment Film Distributors, Ltd.; Eurocine; Kinepolis Film Distribution; RCV Distribution; Sony Pictures Classics; Sony Pictures Home Entertainment; Ufd; Videocine; Warner Bros. Pictures International
Location
Bergamo, Italy; Budapest, Hungary; Lake Como, Italy; Offaly, Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Kildare, Ireland; Lake Como, Italy; Maryland, USA; Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 46m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States August 2000

Released in United States October 2000

Released in United States on Video September 18, 2001

Released in United States September 2000

Released in United States Spring April 20, 2001

Shown at Dinard Festival of British Cinema October 5-8, 2000.

Shown at Edinburgh International Film Festival (Gala) August 13-27, 2000.

Shown at Toronto International Film Festival (Gala) September 7-16, 2000.

Began shooting October 3, 1999.

Completed shooting November 30, 1999.

Released in United States Spring April 20, 2001

Expanded Release in United States May 18, 2001

Released in United States August 2000 (Shown at Edinburgh International Film Festival (Gala) August 13-27, 2000.)

Released in United States September 2000 (Shown at Toronto International Film Festival (Gala) September 7-16, 2000.)

Released in United States on Video September 18, 2001

Released in United States October 2000 (Shown at Dinard Festival of British Cinema October 5-8, 2000.)

Expanded Release in United States May 18, 2001

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