Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina

Last Update: 30 October 2000
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(Warner Bros.) A beautiful, aristocratic young woman whose life at the peak of Imperial Russian society leaves her lonely and unfulfilled...a dashing military man with a noble title and a passionate heart...an affair that begins as a private infatuation, but soon scandalizes an entire city...

Count Leo Tolstoy’s classic romantic novel, Anna Karenina, paints an unforgettable portrait of two people who lose themselves in the throes of a love so powerful that it comes to dominate their very existences, changing forever their friendships, families and futures.

Their scandalous affair is contrasted in the parallel tale of a disillusioned but wealthy landowner and his marriage to a jilted society girl. Although their union begins tentatively, over time it deepens and flourishes, bringing the pair happiness and fulfillment beyond their dreams.

Now, this timeless story is brought to the motion picture screen in an entirely new production, starring SOPHIE MARCEAU (Braveheart) in the title role and SEAN BEAN (Patriot Games) as her illicit lover, Count Vronsky. ALFRED MOLINA plays the once-jaded Levin and MIA KIRSHNER portrays his radiant wife, Kitty. JAMES FOX is Karenin, Anna’s wealthy but distant husband, who struggles with her infidelity.

Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, an Icon Production, is directed by BERNARD ROSE (Immortal Beloved) from his own screenplay. Academy Award-winning producer BRUCE DAVEY (Braveheart) produces and STEPHEN McEVEETY executive produces.

The distinguished behind-the-camera team includes production designer JOHN MYHRE, director of photography DARYN OKADA, editor VICTOR DUBOIS and costume designer MAURIZIO MILLENOTTI. SIR GEORG SOLTI conducts the ST. PETERSBURG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA in selections from Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony, Swan Lake and Eugene Onegan, as well as music by Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev and several traditional Russian folk songs.

Supporting roles are played by DANNY HUSTON as Stiva, SASKIA WICKHAM as Dolly and FIONA SHAW as Lydia Ivanova. Warner Bros. will distribute Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and Icon Entertainment International will oversee international distribution.

Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina was filmed on location in St. Petersburg, Russia over a six month period from February until July 1996.

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS:

Sean Bean
Sophie Marceau
Mia Kirshner
Alfred Molina
Fiona Shaw
James Fox
Saskia Wickham
Danny Huston

 

Count Vronsky
Anna Karenina
Kitty
Levin
Lydia Ivanova
Karenin
Dolly
Stiva
 

 

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

Produced by
Executive Producer
Directed by
Editor
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Costume Designer
Screenplay
From the Novel by
MPAA Rating (US)

US Release Date
UK Release Date
Video Release Date
Video Running Time

 

Icon Films
Steve McEveety
Bernard Rose
Victor Dubois
Daryn Okada
John Myhre
Maurizio Millenotti
Bernard Rose
Leo Tolstoy
PG-13 (mature thematic elements, some sensuality/nudity)
April 4, 1997 (limited)
May 23, 1997
September 9, 1997
108 mins.


About the Story
About the Production
About the Casting
About the Locations
About the Cast Members
About the Film Makers

 

 

Official Anna Karenina website
L.A. Times story - Deep in the Heart of Russia (16 June 1996)

Soundtrack:
Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture
Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina
Featuring Sir Georg Solti
Conductor and Music Director

Icon/Atlantic 92759-2

 


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