"The Luzhin Defence" is not for everybody. It is set in the world of the rich and affluent and it takes place at a chess tournament leading to the World Championship at a posh Italian resort in the 1920s.
Rumpled eccentric genius and Chess Master Lutzin (John Turturro) arrives at the resort dressed in a dirty unkempt suit and seemingly in another world. Society girl Natalie (Emily Watson) is also at the train station awaiting the arrival of her snobbish mother (Geraldine James). She takes little notice of Luzhin at the time.
Natalie's mother is trying to set her up with the Compte de Stassard (Christopher Thompson) a rich noble. Natalie and the bumbling Luzhin meet accidently but do not immediately connect. However the genius eventually takes notice and is so bold as to propose to her as she plays tennis with her mother. Her mother is aghast at the proposition of her daughter marrying such a man and immediately sends for her father.
Natalie grows to like the eccentric Luzhin and they fall in love. Meanwhile, the Chess Tournament gets underway with Italian Grand Master Turati (Fabio Sartor) being the man to beat.
We are given Luzhin's back story in several flashbacks. His parents, (Mark Tandy, Kelly Hunter) are an affluent (what else?) likely Russian family with their young son who is unable to function at an exclusive school. He develops a talent for chess and gain a reputation. Father meanwhile is fooling around with his wife's sister Anna (Oria Brady). With Luzhun's failure at school, Valentinov (Stuart Wilson) offer to take the boy away and tutor him in the ways of the chess world as well as teach him his ABCs. The relationship lasts 14 years with the two touring Europe playing chess matches both against individuals and with groups. Then without warning Valentinov drops Luzhin abandoning him in some un named European city.
Luzhin some how survives and continues to make a name for himself culminating with his invitation to the World Championship tournament. Luzhin advances through the tournament until he reaches the final against Turati. Luzhin is wary of his opponent and feels he needs to develop a "Luzhin defence" in order to beat him. Meanwhile, plans for the wedding proceed. On his way to the church, Luzhin is cornered by his old mentor Valentinov who plans to keep him from winning the championship match. Luzhin escapes from Valentinov and crawls back distraught to his hotel room and......................................................................................
John Turturro gives an outstanding performance as the weird eccentric. He never made the so called "A" list in Hollywood but could always be depended upon to give memorable characterizations. The ending is a little unbelievable given that Natalie was not a chess player.
Not for everyboddy.
Rumpled eccentric genius and Chess Master Lutzin (John Turturro) arrives at the resort dressed in a dirty unkempt suit and seemingly in another world. Society girl Natalie (Emily Watson) is also at the train station awaiting the arrival of her snobbish mother (Geraldine James). She takes little notice of Luzhin at the time.
Natalie's mother is trying to set her up with the Compte de Stassard (Christopher Thompson) a rich noble. Natalie and the bumbling Luzhin meet accidently but do not immediately connect. However the genius eventually takes notice and is so bold as to propose to her as she plays tennis with her mother. Her mother is aghast at the proposition of her daughter marrying such a man and immediately sends for her father.
Natalie grows to like the eccentric Luzhin and they fall in love. Meanwhile, the Chess Tournament gets underway with Italian Grand Master Turati (Fabio Sartor) being the man to beat.
We are given Luzhin's back story in several flashbacks. His parents, (Mark Tandy, Kelly Hunter) are an affluent (what else?) likely Russian family with their young son who is unable to function at an exclusive school. He develops a talent for chess and gain a reputation. Father meanwhile is fooling around with his wife's sister Anna (Oria Brady). With Luzhun's failure at school, Valentinov (Stuart Wilson) offer to take the boy away and tutor him in the ways of the chess world as well as teach him his ABCs. The relationship lasts 14 years with the two touring Europe playing chess matches both against individuals and with groups. Then without warning Valentinov drops Luzhin abandoning him in some un named European city.
Luzhin some how survives and continues to make a name for himself culminating with his invitation to the World Championship tournament. Luzhin advances through the tournament until he reaches the final against Turati. Luzhin is wary of his opponent and feels he needs to develop a "Luzhin defence" in order to beat him. Meanwhile, plans for the wedding proceed. On his way to the church, Luzhin is cornered by his old mentor Valentinov who plans to keep him from winning the championship match. Luzhin escapes from Valentinov and crawls back distraught to his hotel room and......................................................................................
John Turturro gives an outstanding performance as the weird eccentric. He never made the so called "A" list in Hollywood but could always be depended upon to give memorable characterizations. The ending is a little unbelievable given that Natalie was not a chess player.
Not for everyboddy.