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The Luzhin Defence

Play trailer Poster for The Luzhin Defence PG-13 2001 1h 48m Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
58% Tomatometer 73 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Set in the late 1920s, "The Luzhin Defence" tells the story of 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.
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The Luzhin Defence

The Luzhin Defence

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Critics Consensus

Tuturro and Watson play well off each other in this intriguing and well-crafted film.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader 06/22/2022
I realize that every film adaptation of a good novel involves some sort of trade-off and that fair exchanges are few and far between. But this movie takes away a good two-thirds... Go to Full Review Glenn Kenny Premiere Magazine 09/04/2001
One has to assume that Sony Pictures Classics hopes to attract Nabokov-philes to theaters. And, boy, will they be pissed. Go to Full Review Chris Vognar Dallas Morning News 06/14/2001
Makes up for a creaky structure with the intensity of emotion and psychological nuance provided by two of our finest screen actors. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 03/02/2024
2.5/4
A worthy effort for most of its running time. Go to Full Review John A. Nesbit Old School Reviews 02/21/2011
C
Turturro supplies some good moments, but without a believable emotional core the film falls short Go to Full Review Film Threat 12/06/2005
4/5
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Audience Reviews

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06/15/2016 well crafted historical/period drama that proves bobby fisher wasn't the first chess champ that was wack a doodle. See more 12/31/2015 Based on a Nabokov novel published in 1930, this film delves into the mind and soul of an obsessed chess player, and the love of a woman who sees him beyond the celebrated chess player he is. Emily Watson plays the role of a woman in love with a genuine human being; and not a more glamorous but ultimately shallow alternative. See more 06/04/2011 "La défense Loujine" See more 05/17/2010 All it takes, is someone to believe in you. See more 03/29/2010 Much more interesting than it sounds and driven by a strong central performance from John Turturro who should've at least received a nomination for the the Best Actor Oscar. See more 02/11/2010 It has a fairly standard structure to it and is a romance above everything else, but the chess angle adds a different and suprising element to the plot workthrough. It's easy to see why Turturro with his history of playing pyschological characters, why he was chosen to play the deteriorating in mind Luzhin. See more Read all reviews
The Luzhin Defence

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Cast & Crew

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Marleen Gorris

Director

John Turturro

Alexander Luzhin

Emily Watson

Natalia

Geraldine James

Vera

Stuart Wilson

Valentinov

Christopher Thompson

Stassard
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The Luzhin Defence

Emily Watson as Natalia. Emily Watson as Natalia and John Turturro as Luzhin. Director, Marleen Gorris. John Turturro as Luzhin (left). The Villa Erba in Cernobbio, Italy. Emily Watson as Natalia and John Turturro as Luzhin. John Turturro as Luzhin, Stuart Wilson as Valentinov and Emily Watson as Natalia. The Luzhin Defence (2000) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Set in the late 1920s, "The Luzhin Defence" tells the story of 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.
Director
Marleen Gorris
Producer
Stephen Evans, Philippe Guez, Caroline Wood
Screenwriter
Peter Berry, Vladimir Nabokov
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Clear Blue Sky Productions, France 2 Cinema, ICE3, Lantia Cinema, Magic Média, Renaissance Films
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Some Sensuality)
Genre
Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 20, 2001, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.1M
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo