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The Luzhin Defence 2000 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Marleen Gorris
PG-13, 108 min. (some sensuality, thematic elements) |
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Starring: John Turturro, Emily Watson, Geraldine James, Stuart Wilson, Christopher Thompson, Peter Blythe
Producers: Stephen Evans, Philippe Guez, Caroline Wood
Screenplay: Peter Berry
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Released: 4/27/01 (Limited) |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
The life of a master chess player is an all-consuming, obsessive, and at times torturous love affair with the chess board. They
don't need a board in front of them to play out complex scenarios in their mind, always pushing themselves for the next
great offensive or defensive strategy. This is the background for The Luzhin Defence, a character-driven film that touches on
the near insanity that befalls those who have the gift of playing chess at a world-class level. Marleen Gorris, who also directed
1995's Best Foreign Picture Antonio's Line and another involving film, Mrs. Dalloway, has crafted a story based on the novel
The Defense by Vladimir Nobokov. Presented as a period piece because of its great attention to costume design of 1920's
Italy, the film sets it sights clearly on the disturbed and troubled mind of its main character, Luzhin, a Chess Grand Master.
Luzhin (John Turturro) has arrived in Italy to compete in the world chess championships - he's unkept, dirty, and more or less
removed from the social world around him. His disturbing appearance grabs the attention of those social elite attending the
event, especially Natalia (Emily Watson), a beautiful rich daughter of a socially respected family. She is intrigued by him
because of his honesty, brevity, and obvious genius behind the perceived obtuseness. He is also smitten by her, and immediately
asks her to marry him. Surprisingly, Natalia shortly afterwards accepts because of her need to take care of him. This new found
love is wrapped around another story - Luzhin's childhood, which is continously addressed in flashbacks throughout the film,
and his mentor, Stuart Wilson, who is determined to see him fail because of his past disappointments with him.
The story is pushed forward mainly by the interaction of the main characters, not because of the plot. In a film such as this,
the actors must be at the top of their game, and Turturro and Watson turn in strong performances in delicate roles. Turturro
is convincing as the mentally disturbed man (who is really just a boy still) that must confront the fact that chess will eventually
destroy him. But as any addict knows, giving up something that has had a grip on your life for a long period of time is very
difficult. Here he has been given a choice - chess or Natalia, who has been advised by the doctors that he must give up chess
in order to lead a normal life. Turturro effectively portrays the confusion and instense battle that is raging in his mind between the two
choices, one that will lead to his eventual fate. Watson (Hilary and Jackie) is also impressive - she gives a strong-willed performance, but not
to the point that she's overbearing. Their chemistry together is obvious, and it helps make the story even more effective.
Comparisons between this film and Searching for Bobby Fisher are unavoidable, but while the latter deals with a boy's struggle
to find balance between chess and life, this one is about the drug-like addiction that chess has on its character. The strength of
this film is the battle that takes place between a man's mind and his addiction, in this case the game of chess. It can be debated
who really won the battle, but the film succeeds in portraying the battle field, its players, and its brutality on all involved.
The film's conclusion could seem contrived, but I think it's appropriate and very effective - a fitting end to the legacy of Luzhin.
If you're looking for a thought-provoking, well-acted and directed film, The Luzhin Defence has a lot to offer. Even if you don't
understand or even care about the game of chess, it's worth the two hours to see how it can affect even the most intelligent
among us, while reminding us what's really important in life in the first place.
© 2001 Jonathan Cornwell
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| Masterpiece - Classic; Movie perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See; One of the year's best films |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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