Anna Karenina (2012) - Tuesday 28th January 2025

This was my first exposure to this story; even though it’s been adapted for the screen many times, and I have to say, I liked the theatrical way the story was told. Kudos to the director, Joe Wright, for attempting an innovative approach.

Visually, the film is great. The problem with it, however, comes in the form of the protagonist. Anna Karenina, as an adulteress, isn’t easy to empathise with, or even like. So when her life descends, you don’t really care, and when you don’t care for the protagonist, the story is in trouble.

That said, it’s clearly a cautionary tale about the consequences of infidelity.
Personally, I think an actor with a greater level of emotional range, may have given the character more empathy, than Keira Knightly managed.

It’s a decent film, and like I said, the main merits of it lie in the visuals. I think I’ll watch the other adaptations at some point, especially the one starring Sophie Marceau, because… well, does one need more of a reason than the fact that she’s in it?