Anna Karenina – A Russian Classic

2 November 2022

There are over fifteen film adaptations of the book Anna Karenina by renowned Russian author and philosopher Leon Tolstoy who also wrote the acclaimed novel ‘War and Peace’. The version filmed in 1935 starred Greta Garbo in one of her most celebrated roles. More recently, in 2012, Keira Knightly took on the classic role of Anna Karenina in this timeless epic love story. Written in 1878 this work of literature is considered to be among the greatest ever written.

The Embassy of Russia in South Africa screened a Soviet version filmed in 1967 at the Hotel School in Pretoria as it re introduced the monthly screening of Russian movies to showcase their artistic film making and acting talent. The movie features Russian movie superstar Tatyana Samoilova as Anna Karenina and Vasili Lanovoy as the dashing Count Vronsky.

The film is set against the backdrop of a rapidly transforming Russia as a result of the liberal reforms initiated by Emperor Alexander II of Russia. Anna Karenina is married to Alexei Karenin, played by Nikolai Gritsensko, a man 20 years her senior. She meets Count Vronsky and they fall desperately in love and when Karenin finds out about the affair a dramatic chain of events are set in motion. The universal themes of love, betrayal, family, marriage, society and desire are evident in the movie. Set during the times of the Russian aristocracy the film reflects a bygone era of Russian society.

TDS