Anna Karenina marks the third collaboration of director Joe Wright and Kiera Knightly, a pairing that made much more reserved and dare I say beautiful films (Pride & Prejudice & Atonement). A film made with bold images and ideas, this is not to say Karenina is not a joy to watch or experience. For once though, Wright has made a film where the border of substance and style has been reached, and perhaps we lost out on much of the humanism that Tolstoy's novel brings.
Set in a turbulent Russian setting, the stage is set for Anna, a lavish woman living with a husband she may not love and a child she cares the world for. Through truly melodramatic form, she meets and falls in love with a young Count, and the two strike up a tragic affair - the type of scenario that only ever ends in tragedy.
Unlike previous adaptations of the work, director Joe Wright attempts to reimagine the story, largely through his staging and set pieces. Nearly all of the film plays out inside a hollowed out theater, with sets and transitions changing within shots. We learn how formal each character's life is - how bound they are to traditions and rules - and the theater aspect truly becomes apparent. It is an interesting concept and creates an experience not unlike watching a great play. The film doesn't attempt to reveal us to the beauty of Russia, instead, it tries to make the screen as close as possible. It is a confusing concept and one that audiences will have to get accustomed to, no doubt.
The highlights of the film are the technical aspects. You can almost assure an Oscar win for the vivid costume design - with dresses billowing out and flowing like water. The progression from scene to scene is remarkable as each new wardrobe for the characters is all the more impressive. The same can be said for the art direction - so innovative in its ideas and execution that it seems so likely to receive awards' attention.
The film reminded me somewhat of another piece of eye candy: Marie Antoinette. A beauty to watch, even on mute - the only difference being that one film truly explores the meaning of being bound by society and wealth, the other chooses a far safer route. There was endless potential for this retelling of the Anna Karenina story, and in the end, I think the film turned out to be a simple misstep.
(Awards potential: Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score)
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