The Luzhin Defence (2000)
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- PG-13
- 1h 49min
- Drama, Romance
- 08 Sep 2000 (UK)
- Movie
Two worlds collide when an eccentric genius falls in love with a strong-willed society beauty.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 3 wins & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| John Turturro | ... |
Luzhin
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| Emily Watson | ... |
Natalia
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| Geraldine James | ... |
Vera
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| Stuart Wilson | ... |
Valentinov
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Christopher Thompson | ... |
Stassard
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| Fabio Sartor | ... |
Turati
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| Peter Blythe | ... |
Ilya
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| Orla Brady | ... |
Anna
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| Mark Tandy | ... |
Luzhin's Father
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| Kelly Hunter | ... |
Luzhin's Mother
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Alexander Hunting | ... |
Young Luzhin
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Alfredo Pea | ... |
1st Official
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Fabio Pasquini | ... |
2nd Official
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Luigi Petrucci | ... |
Santucci
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Carlo Greco | ... |
Hotel Manager
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| Massimo Sarchielli | ... |
Tailor
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Luca Foggiano | ... |
Fascist
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Antonio Carli | ... |
Fascist
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David Ambrosi | ... |
Fascist
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Géza Schramek | ... |
Maitre'D (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Marleen Gorris | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Vladimir Nabokov | ... | (novel "Zashchita Luzhina") |
| Peter Berry | ... | (screenplay by) |
Produced by
| Jody Allen | ... | executive producer (as Jody Patton) |
| Péter Barbalics | ... | co-producer |
| Louis Becker | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Stephen Evans | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Philippe Guez | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Leo Pescarolo | ... | co-producer |
| Eric Robison | ... | co-producer |
| Andrew Warren | ... | line producer |
| Caroline Wood | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Alexandre Desplat | ... | (original music by) |
Cinematography by
| Bernard Lutic | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Michiel Reichwein | ... | (as Michaël Reichwein) |
Editorial Department
| Kevin Ahern | ... | first assistant film editor |
| Peter Hunt | ... | grader |
| Lucy Smith | ... | first assistant film editor |
| Wiebe van der Vliet | ... | non-linear assistant editor (as Wiebe Van Der Vliet) |
| Lucy H. Williams | ... | second assistant film editor (as Lucy Williams) |
Casting By
| Celestia Fox | ||
Production Design by
| Tony Burrough | ||
Art Direction by
| John Hill | ... | supervising art director |
Costume Design by
| Jany Temime | ||
Makeup Department
| Cristiana Bertini | ... | additional hair stylist / additional makeup artist |
| Elaine Browne | ... | hair stylist / makeup artist |
| Harisa Centani | ... | additional hair stylist / additional makeup artist |
| Lamberto Deli | ... | additional hair stylist (as Lambero Deli) / additional makeup artist (as Lambero Deli) |
| Annamaria Ginnoto | ... | additional hair stylist / additional makeup artist |
| Lesley Noble | ... | hair stylist / makeup artist |
| Carla Ruffert | ... | additional hair stylist / additional makeup artist |
| Roseann Samuel | ... | hair designer / makeup designer |
| Allison Sing | ... | hair stylist / makeup artist |
| Rozália Szegedi | ... | additional hair stylist (as Rozalia Szegedi) / additional makeup artist (as Rozalia Szegedi) |
| Consuelo Vitturi | ... | hair stylist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Ferenc Béres | ... | unit production manager (as Ferenc Beres) |
| Guy Courtecuisse | ... | post-production manager |
| Fleur Fontaine | ... | post-production supervisor |
| László Lakatos | ... | unit manager |
| Mark Mostyn | ... | unit manager |
| Rosanna Roditi | ... | production manager |
| Paolo Rosada | ... | unit manager |
| László Sipos | ... | production manager |
| Maria Walker | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Gábor Gajdos | ... | assistant director: Hungary (as Gabor Gajdos) |
| Tommy Gormley | ... | first assistant director |
| Tamás Mink | ... | second assistant director (as Tamas Mink) |
| Sarah Purser | ... | second assistant director |
| Bojana Sutic | ... | assistant director: Italy |
| Aoife Thunder | ... | third assistant director |
Art Department
| Daniele Bacciu | ... | props buyer (as Daniel Bacciu) |
| Zsuzsanna Borvendég | ... | art director: Hungary (as Zsuzsanna Borvendeg) |
| Sarah Jane Cornish | ... | stand-by art director |
| Noel Cowell | ... | stand-by propsman |
| Luciano Curti | ... | painter |
| Paolo Cusin | ... | laborer |
| Gisella Ingrassia | ... | painter |
| Marino Ingrassia | ... | painter |
| Ermanno Kerstich | ... | laborer (as Ermanno Kersich) |
| Imre Kiss | ... | assistant construction manager |
| Luciano Magagnini | ... | assistant props man |
| Kamlan Man | ... | production buyer |
| Mihály Marton | ... | assistant propman (as Mihaly Marton) / props: stop-motion segment |
| Mauro Masotti | ... | assistant props man |
| Ennio Meloni | ... | assistant construction manager |
| Norman Mitchell | ... | glass chess set |
| Tiziano Nardoni | ... | construction manager |
| Alessandra Querzola | ... | set dresser: Italy |
| Shirley Robinson | ... | graphic designer |
| Miklós Schmelcz | ... | construction manager (as Miklos Schmelz) |
| John Smith | ... | props storeman |
| Dominic Smithers | ... | supervising set decorator |
| Francesco Staltari | ... | assistant construction manager |
| Sam Stokes | ... | property master |
| Gábor Szabó | ... | furniture maker |
| Lajos E. Szabó | ... | stand-by construction manager (as Lajos E Szabo) |
| István Tóth | ... | set dresser: Hungary (as István Toth) |
| Emanuele von Normann | ... | art director: Italy (as Emanuele Von Normann) |
| Béla Tollay | ... | swing gang (uncredited) |
| Gabor Toth | ... | stand-by props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Andrea Azzolini | ... | sound trainee |
| John Bateman | ... | adr mixer / foley mixer |
| Jimmy Boyle | ... | assistant sound editor (as James Boyle) |
| Michael Crouch | ... | adr editor |
| Solrey Dupray | ... | recording producer |
| Richard Fettes | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Robert Gavin | ... | foley editor |
| Peter Glossop | ... | production sound mixer |
| Craig Irving | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Mark Kenna | ... | stereo sound consultant: Dolby |
| Mark Lafbery | ... | assistant sound re-recording mixer |
| György Mihályi | ... | sound trainee (as Gyorgy Mihalyi) |
| Shaun Mills | ... | boom operator |
| Colin Ritchie | ... | dialogue editor |
| Lionel Selwyn | ... | foley artist |
| Ruth Sullivan | ... | foley artist |
| Alan Sutcliffe | ... | sound recordist |
| Jack Whittaker | ... | assistant sound editor |
Special Effects by
| Zsolt Furedi | ... | special effects technician |
| István Gittinger | ... | stand-by pyrotechnician (as Istvan Gittinger) |
| Gyula Krasnyánszky | ... | pyrotechnic technical advisor (as Gyula Krasnyanszky) |
| Ferenc Ormos | ... | special effects supervisor |
| György Solymosi | ... | special effects technician (as Gyorgy Solymosi) / special effects |
| Alfredo Spadaro | ... | special effects technician |
| Massimo Ticchiati | ... | special effects technician |
| Attila Érczkövi | ... | stand-by pyrotechnician (as Attila Erckovi) |
| Gábor Kiszelly | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Craig Chandler | ... | visual effects producer (uncredited) |
| Alan Church | ... | visual effects supervisor (uncredited) |
Stunts
| David Ambrosi | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Giovanna Leici | ... | stunts |
| Riccardo Mioni | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Alessandro Novelli | ... | stunts (as Allessandro Novelli) |
| Emiliano Novelli | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Marco Alzetta | ... | grip |
| Werner Bacciu | ... | key grip |
| Jaspreet Bal | ... | clapper loader / first assistant camera |
| Gyula Balogh | ... | electrician |
| Csaba Bankhardt | ... | electrician |
| Tommaso Baratto | ... | grip |
| Regis Benedettelli | ... | grip (as Regis Benedetteli) |
| Alessio Bramucci | ... | best boy electric |
| Patrick Bramucci | ... | gaffer |
| Károly Brauner | ... | key grip (as Karoly Brauner) |
| Nicola Bruso | ... | grip |
| Marcello Colaciello | ... | electrician |
| Dominique Delguste | ... | focus puller |
| Angelo Donatone | ... | grip (as Angelo Donatoni) |
| Cristiano Giavedoni | ... | electrician |
| Tamás Jánossa | ... | video assist operator |
| Tibor Klöpfler | ... | camera operator: second camera crew, Hungary (as Tibor Klopfler) |
| Ferenc Lilienberg | ... | camera operator: second camera crew, Hungary |
| Christian Magis | ... | gaffer (as Christian Majis) |
| Richard Malabi | ... | camera operator: second camera crew, Hungary |
| Olivier Martin | ... | key grip |
| Andrea Mineo | ... | grip labourer |
| Elvis Pasqual | ... | electrician |
| Péter Soltész | ... | camera trainee (as Peter Soltesz) |
| Balázs Szinte | ... | clapper loader (as Balazs Szinte) |
| Rudolf Takács | ... | gaffer |
| Andrea Tenuta | ... | grip labourer |
| Mark Tillie | ... | unit still photographer |
| Vincenzo Vedovato | ... | video assist operator |
| Mario Virdis | ... | electrician |
| Walter Volvino | ... | additional focus puller |
| Tibor Zámbó | ... | grip (as Tibor Zambo) |
| Giuseppe Bilotti | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Alessandro Cardelli | ... | best boy electric (uncredited) |
| Andrea Chiozzotto | ... | additional camera operator (uncredited) |
| Simone Puricelli | ... | additional clapper loader (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Louis Elman | ... | adr voice casting |
| Tamás Kertész | ... | extras casting |
| Adriana Sabbatini | ... | casting director: Italy |
| Alex Johnson | ... | casting assistant (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Sergio Ballo | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Mari Balázs-Piri | ... | wardrobe assistant (as Mari Balazs-Piri) |
| Amanda Craze | ... | stand-by costume supervisor |
| Françoise Fourcade | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| György Homonnay | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Péter Kincs | ... | wardrobe assistant (as Peter Kincs) |
| Mark Lord | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Barbara Vianello | ... | wardrobe assistant |
Location Management
| Ferenc Béres | ... | unit location manager (as Ferenc Beres) |
| Nicola Catullo | ... | location assistant |
| Tamás Guba | ... | location manager |
| Fabio Vianello | ... | location manager |
| Paolo Rosada | ... | location manager (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Riccardo Chailly | ... | conductor: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, "Waltz 2" from "Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2" |
| Simon Chamberlain | ... | musician: piano solo |
| Alexandre Desplat | ... | conductor / orchestrator |
| Tom Jenkins | ... | assistant music recordist |
| John Timperley | ... | music mixer / music recordist |
| David Walter | ... | assistant music recordist |
| Dominique Lemonnier | ... | score producer (uncredited) |
| London Symphony Orchestra | ... | music performed by (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Sophie Thévenet-Becker | ... | script supervisor (as Sophie Thevenet Becker) |
| Liz West | ... | script supervisor (as Elizabeth West) |
Transportation Department
| Gaetano Avvisato | ... | unit driver |
| Laszlo Balint | ... | unit driver |
| Péter Balogh | ... | unit driver (as Peter Balogh) |
| Neil Birdsall | ... | driver: winnebego |
| Riccardo Cagnetta | ... | unit driver |
| Marcello Colaciello | ... | genny driver |
| Nicola Condelli | ... | driver: minibus |
| Massimiliano Di Meo | ... | unit driver |
| Davide Fadda | ... | driver: minibus |
| Alessio Faretra | ... | unit driver |
| Massimiliano Galante | ... | unit driver |
| Antonio Galise | ... | unit driver |
| Sergio Gobetto | ... | driver: camera car |
| Gábor Gonda | ... | unit driver (as Gabor Gonda) |
| Mihály Gáspár | ... | production driver |
| Mac MacLean | ... | driver: wardrobe truck (as Mac McLean) |
| Zoltán Magyar | ... | unit driver |
| Zoltán Makra | ... | unit driver (as Zoltan Makra) |
| Mauro Masotti | ... | driver |
| Pietro Masotti | ... | driver |
| Sándor Nagy | ... | unit driver |
| Sándor Nyéki | ... | unit driver (as Sandor Nyeki) |
| János Nádel | ... | unit driver (as Janos Nadel) |
| Tibor Papp | ... | unit driver |
| Istvan Pintye | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Carlo Quattrone | ... | unit driver |
| Paolo Racalbulto | ... | driver: grip truck |
| Simon Richards | ... | driver: props truck |
| Alessio Schenone | ... | unit driver |
| Luigi Schiavone | ... | unit driver |
| Maurizio Troso | ... | driver: minibus |
| Péter Veres | ... | unit driver |
Additional Crew
| Zoltán Baráth | ... | extras coordinator (as Zoltán Barat) |
| Tessa Beazley | ... | production secretary |
| Réka Belsô | ... | assistant to director (as Reka Belsö) |
| Gabor Boda | ... | stand-in: Mr. Turturro |
| Bobe Bodzsar | ... | assistant accountant (as Erzsebet Bodzsar) |
| Clara Collati | ... | production secretary |
| Giovanni Constantino | ... | paramedic |
| Alessandro Cosma | ... | unit caterer |
| Gabriella Csoma | ... | production coordinator |
| Tommaso Dabala | ... | production assistant |
| Marco Dandola | ... | production assistant (as Marco B Dandola) |
| Filippo De Martin | ... | floor runner |
| Domenico Di Parigi | ... | extras coordinator |
| Lorenzo Donegana | ... | stand-in: Mr. Turturro |
| Péter Dr. Hertzka | ... | unit doctor |
| Judit Dégi | ... | interpreter |
| Sándor Dénes | ... | extras coordinator (as Sandor Denes) |
| Stephanie Eatwell | ... | design assistant supervisor |
| Viktoria Elek | ... | stand-in: Ms. Watson |
| Elizabeth Every | ... | tutor: Alexander Hunting |
| Roberta Facchettin | ... | assistant accountant |
| Ron Forder | ... | assistant production accountant |
| Bela Frey | ... | shipping agent |
| Sean Gaji | ... | assistant to director |
| Theodore Goddard | ... | legal services |
| Mate Gyori | ... | stand-in: Master Hunting |
| István Havlik | ... | additional stand-in (as Istvan Havlik) |
| Susan Hunting | ... | chaperone |
| Ildiko Kemeny | ... | production associate (as Ildiko Kemény) |
| Ray Kenny | ... | floor runner |
| Iren Kertesz | ... | production secretary (as Irén Kertiesz) |
| Tamás Kertész | ... | assistant extras coordinator (as Tamas Kertesz) |
| Barnabas Kiraly | ... | floor runner |
| Brigitta Kosztandi | ... | production accountant |
| Pierro Loy | ... | dance instructor |
| Charles McDonald | ... | publicist (as Charles Macdonald) |
| Harry Naylor | ... | projectionist |
| Chiara Orefice | ... | stand-in: Ms. Watson |
| Rita Pilinyi | ... | production assistant |
| Jo Pond | ... | production accountant |
| Sara Rossini | ... | floor runner |
| Fabiano Rubeo | ... | assistant accountant |
| Gregor Schimdinger | ... | tennis coach |
| Jean Simmons | ... | computer operator |
| Diego Somigliana | ... | assistant extras coordinator |
| John Speelman | ... | chess consultant |
| Paul Swann | ... | laboratory contact |
| Gábor Szabó | ... | furniture maker |
| Judit Sági | ... | interpreter |
| Nathalie Tanner | ... | production coordinator |
| Daniele Tiberi | ... | production accountant (as Daniele Tiberi) |
| Anita Tomaselli | ... | production coordinator |
| Micol Tummino | ... | accounts runner |
| Mónika Varga | ... | unit nurse (as Monika Varga) |
| Béla Vaszary | ... | unit doctor (as Dr. Béla Vaszary) |
| Mario Vianello | ... | unit caterer |
| Claudia Kalindjian | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
| Rita Pilinyi | ... | assistant accountant (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Jonathan Berger | ... | special thanks |
| Anthony Davies | ... | special thanks |
| Michael Freundlich | ... | special thanks |
| Thomas Gardiner | ... | special thanks |
| Dominique Green | ... | special thanks |
| Sophie Janson | ... | special thanks |
| Simon McBurney | ... | special thanks |
| József Romvári | ... | special thanks (as Romváry József) |
| Anne Sheehan | ... | special thanks |
| Evelyne Tissier | ... | special thanks |
| Maria Uitdehaag | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- C.R.G. International (executive production)
- France 2 Cinéma
- ICE3
- Lantia Cinema & Audiovisivi
- Magic Média
- Renaissance Films
- Vulcan Productions
Distributors
- Eurocine (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (VHS)
- Entertainment Film Distributors (United Kingdom)
- Europa Filmes (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Mill Creek Entertainment (2014) (United States) (DVD)
- RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
- RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
- RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
- Sherlock Media S.L. (Spain)
- Sony Pictures Classics (2001) (north America)
- Sony Pictures Television International (tv)
- UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (France)
- Vértice 360 (Spain)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Angel Recording Studios (music recorded at)
- Angels & Bermans (costumes)
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment (cranes and dollies)
- Cosprop (costumes)
- Dolby Digital (in selected theatres)
- Edit Hire (New Technology) (cutting room equipment)
- Film Finances (completion guarantor)
- General Screen Enterprises (titles and opticals)
- Kodak Motion Picture Film (originated on motion picture film from)
- Lee Lighting (additional lighting)
- McDonald and Rutter (publicity)
- Media Insurance Brokers (MIB) (insurance arrangements)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA)
- Panavision Alga (camera and grip equipment)
- Pharma Penelope BT (unit catering)
- Precision Cargo Services (courier services)
- Sapex Scripts (post-production scripts)
- Société Générale (banking finance provided by)
- Studio Lepsky (payroll)
- Sylvia Wheeler Film Services (negative cutting)
- The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) (music performed by)
- Transpalux (lighting equipment)
- Twickenham Film Studios (sound re-recorded at)
- Walker et Associés (legal services)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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. Already matched up by her family to the very suitable Comte de Stassard, when Natalia meets Luzhin, she is drawn to the erratic genius and offers him a glimpse outside of his chess obsession. But it is a world he is not equipped to deal with and his two worlds collide to tragic effect. Written by Anonymous |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | His love dictates every move. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The dramatic draw that takes place halfway through the film follows the obscure game Macht-Weenink 1930. The scene begins as Luzhin's opponent is in a losing position. Knowing he is ahead but with pressure mounting, Luzhin makes the amateur-grade blunder from the original game. He loses his knight for nothing. Having blown his chance to win, Luzhin forces a draw. See more » |
| Goofs | In his game as white against an unnamed opponent before the final, Luzhin is shown supposedly checkmating with Rd1-d8, which is an illegal move because his rook at d1 is pinned against his king on h1 by black's rook at c1. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Driven/The Golden Bowl/61*/One Night at McCool's/The Luzhin Defence (2001). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Jazz Suite No. 2: VI. Waltz 2 See more » |
| Quotes |
Aleksandr Ivanovich Luzhin:
There's a pattern emerging, a definite pattern. Not Turati. I repeat that game. I've beaten him. And his moves are repeated, repeated, repeated moves. I must keep track... of every second. Every second I must keep track of, every second. Natalia Katkov: It sounds like such a lonely battle. See more » |