When I walked into Anna Kerenina, I was expecting something between Pride and Prejudice, and The Duchess. The trailers made this film look great. Unfortunately, what I saw was a disjointed film, that was shot like a play.
The cinematography was great. The costumes were beautiful, but unfortunately, that was the best part of this film. From what I gathered, Anna Kerenina tells the story of Anna, a wealthy woman who begins an affair with a handsome young officer. Anna’s story is intertwined with several others, to portray Russian aristocracy in the 1800’s.
I did not like the way in which Anna Kerenina was filmed like a play. It went against everything I know about film. There was literally a set on stage which was changed like a play. I found this obscure, and it made it hard for me to follow the plot. It also felt like the film was being ‘acted’, rather than portrayed as real life events like most films.
Anna Kerenina also played with the rules of filming, and there were several shots that I did not like. I especially found it strange when objects obscured characters
All in all, I was disappointed with Anna Kerenina. If you like art films, I’m sure you will enjoy it. If you’re like me however, and like traditional filming, then stay well clear. For the costuming and cinematography alone, I give it 6/10.
Lights, Camera, Action 