Anna Karenina: Karenin's Warning

In Cinemas September 7, 2012
www.annakareninamovie.co.uk
Anna Karenina is acclaimed director Joe Wright's bold, theatrical new vision of the epic story of love, stirringly adapted from Leo Tolstoy's great novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love). The film marks the third collaboration of the director with Academy Award-nominated actress Keira Knightley and Academy Award-nominated producers Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Paul Webster, following their award-winning box office successes Pride & Prejudice and Atonement.In Cinemas September 7, 2012
www.annakareninamovie.co.uk
Anna Karenina is acclaimed director Joe Wright's bold, theatrical new vision of the epic story of love, stirringly adapted from Leo Tolstoy's great novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love). The film marks the third collaboration of the director with Academy Award-nominated actress Keira Knightley and Academy Award-nominated producers Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Paul Webster, following their award-winning box office successes Pride & Prejudice and Atonement.

[@LittleMissRachelLee]

Jude Law is SO good at this part.

[@magorzatak4037]

I think he is perfect in all parts.

[@rahmadifajarhimawan4934]

"And you have a son.." "And I am tired." lol good timing

[@yeyosilver7067]

To this day I look for why she was tired

[@lauren9004]

Literally

[@anafernandamercadoaraujo8448]

It really makes me mad at Anna in the part where she says she has nothing to say to Alexei Karenin. He may not have been the best husband but he does care for her genuinely and she is having an affair with another man. He has every right to call her out on her behavior, and even he's the one who apologizes to her.

[@sasha6454]

No, he doesn't care for her. He's worried about his reputation as a politician. And like a politician, rather that a caring husband, Karenin uses her son against Anna making sure she will never see her son if she goes off with Vronski and ruins his name.

[@peggyblue51]

@@sasha6454 he was a decent man who married a decent and loving him woman. And he loved her too, but he had to running his career too. He thought, that life like that started, after marrying his wife and will always keep going in this shape, till death. He always trusted Anna. She was cheerful, decent wife, who always was loyal to him. Who could choose in lovers but she has never done it to Karenin. And he was always loyal to Anna. They have promised to God, people, and each other, that they will be always loyal - and he believed that this promise is their duty. And when Anna has broken this promise - he just didn't want to show - how painful it is for him. He was doing just what was historical resposible in that period.

[@theodoranevessimoes9756]

I feel like in the movie he's portrayed in a way that make us think so. I watched the movie before I read the book and I felt like Karenin was deeply in love with Anna in his own way. However, in the book it was portrayed quite differently; even though he is still a victim of his wife's infidelity, it was made clear how little he cared about her feelings and her well being. He really just cared about his reputation.

[@yeyosilver7067]

@you are loved I can't believe you're being st*pid enough to use 21st century morals at the time of the movie, pathetic It doesn't matter if he was older or not, he respected and loved her, she had children, money and love, she's just a b*tch, so it ended the way it ended

[@yeyosilver7067]

@@theodoranevessimoes9756 You read the wrong book, he cared and loved her, moreover it is obvious that his reputation was important too, his wife was a sl*t who abandoned her husband and children for a stranger, even nowadays such a situation would be ashamed

[@Timi12010425]

When I read the book, I felt compassion for Karenin. It is not so hard to imagine an orphan who does not know how to express emotions because there are orphans to this date who face the same challenge (and many more). He was not the way he was because he chose to. He simply did not know how or is unable to express emotion. Sometimes I wonder if Anna simply did not care to explore this issue with her husband or simply that marriage dynamics at their time and culture is different. I wish book adaptations did their source materials justice. Tolstoy created such complex characters (as he should since humans are complex). More often than not, movies are drastically simplified and reduce characters to caricatures.

[@amorepsyche808]

I have such a respect for Karenin, he seems so moral and logical. I would be so lucky if I find such a devotional soul to share my life! I would give all the silly Vronksys playboys to all the other girls, because what makes a man, it is exactly the way he speaks to Anna in this clip: respectful,calm and compassionate...a great men

[@GosieKin]

Anna's mother adored him and his morals.

[@priscillajimenez27]

He's not perfect especially affectionately but he seemed like a good man to be with.

[@magorzatak4037]

But Anna was a woman that needed emotional man. Unfortunately Karenin was not emotional. He really loved her but he was not able to show her that. And Anna was too stupid to notice and appreciate it.

[@thisgirl5933]

100% agree!

[@nataliapanfichi9933]

​@magorzatak4037 karanin is way older than Anna, and she clearly loves vrosky because he's young, handsome, and showed his feelings.

[@chrisylthemissile26]

He deserves so much better. Why are good people taken advantage of?

[@emhu2594]

they choose poorly.

[@shahzaibniazi8285]

Chrisyl The Missile xxx xxx

[@sasha6454]

He never gave her attention, at least in the novel, because he was married to his career. Usually it's heartbreaking but Karenin didn't even care that she was seeing another man. He only feared the public humiliation. Karenin was not a good man and his failed relationship was his own doing.

[@Fkreisler]

@@sasha6454 cheating can never be justified, you can communicate and you can end things, no need to deceive people.

[@Edith19]

@@sasha6454 he gave her the affection and the attention he was capable of. There were, of course, a lot of communication problems, but he did care for her. I remember a passage from the book where he says that he has basically no friends because when he married Anna he detached himself from his social groups; or when he goes to pick her up at the train station, he says “your is very well and didn’t miss you terribly, unlike your husband” (Anna brushes it off as a joke because Karenin doesn’t express his emotions and feelings in a clear way). Even here, feeling jealousy is beneath him and insults her because he thinks that feeling jealousy could mean he doesn’t trust his wife enough. Not trusting his wife it’s an insult. He knows he’s an awkward middle-aged man with an incapability to express his feelings. He puts off asking for a divorce, and when he asks for one he knows that if Anna’s the guilty one than she will never see her son again. Of course, after the second part of the book everything goes batshit crazy. The fact that he brings up a child who’s not his it’s very indicative. Tl;dr: Alexeij Karenin was just an awkward middle-aged man who cared and loved his wife very much but had very serious communication problems

[@BooBop1987]

Anna Katenina is one of the characters who doesn't know about her own flaws!

[@CJ-wf8ve]

"I consider jealousy to be insulting to you..and degrading to me."

[@Flauius]

a great timeless words of Aleksiej Karenin

[@Vela21]

This scene is played to perfection! Knightley and Law for oscars please!!

[@radioheadtv3131]

“You have a son” “And I’m tired” Bruh😂

[@mlks007]

You cant say he didn't warn her

[@priscillajimenez27]

Was thinking the same

[@CJ-wf8ve]

"Please say what you want to tell me.." Says it "OK byyyyeee.."

[@jasminealex7212]

This scene is loyal to the book

[@momokat4082]

I feel bad for him, he's a good man, probably a good husband and definately a good father, if I was her I woudn't give up on a good life with such a man and a son to a love affair that would not work in the society she lived. Love is complicated, I can understand that, but Anna is simply idiot and selfish, she should have had more consideration for her actions

[@ananeva198]

Randi M Roble Karenin was the one who lovingly looked after Anna's daughter when she was first born, I don't recall Vronsky doing anything of that sort, he was too immature and selfish

[@MiguelLopez-el2gp]

Well, in the book he isn't portrayed as the best-caring husband. And you can see it in the performance, too. He's very cold and squared, he seems to do everything in a very meticulous way. He sees Anna as a little girl to reprehend, not as her equal. And he may love her, but he also seems to don't care that much for her or for her son at all. It's like for Aleksandr his marriage is just an inevitable problem to live in society. His worries aren't about Anna's love for him at all, but mostly about society. He's not asking her if she's cheating. He's aking her not to do "scenes" in front of society: as if what's said about their marriage is more important than the marriage itself.

[@nancyhey1012]

In both the book and the movie, I did not have a lot of sympathy for Anna. True, her husband was not perfect, and he was not romantic, and I agree he cared too much about societal approval, but I did thnk that his love for Anna and their son was genuine. Also, Count Vronsky was not a better man than Karenin, he was also quite selfish in many ways, and the way he treated Kitty was quite cruel.

[@adeel-eh7xq]

Actually Tolstoy wanted his readers to feel bad for the 'bad' characters, so it's easy to feel bad for him. But yeah he is a very forgiving despite being robotic when it comes to displaying emotions and etc. Apparently Anna married him when she was very young, and they had no choice because Anna's aunt had made up a rumor that Karenin had taken her virginity only, because she wanted Anna married to a high ranking government official. That's why their marriage was complicated. She never loved him and he never really loved her because he was so lacking in passion and imagination.

[@hemantdabas2614]

Randi M Roble i know that I'm late for this discussion but I must remind you that in the books vronsky gave his daughter to karenin of his own free will. Karenin didn't take Annie by force. He, with consent of vronsky, legally adopted her as his daughter, essentially saving her from a lifetime of shame at being a bastard child. According to countess vronskaya her son later regretted giving his daughter to karenin, but it was too late to get her back. Which is in no way karenin's fault. If anything, it's vronsky who had no right to ask for his daughter back when he gave her up in the first place. Vronsky also had no right to seduce a married woman, make her choose between him and her son, and essentially ruin her life. For all that Anna's married life was loveless she still began the novel as karenin's happy lively wife and ended it as the absolutely miserable mistress of vronsky who took her own life.

[@ewat4753]

All so sumptuous and scandalous. This great novel is a presentation of human experience. No matter your class or status. Real, true, passionate love, fiery, animalistic love is intoxicating and all consuming. We should all be so lucky to find it at some point in our lives.

[@user-ci4rs4ti8h]

Это не любовь, а всего лишь половая страсть . Любовь рождается в браке . Просто Анна плохая.

[@rosannabaptisto1806]

He is perfect I find him very beautiful..his soul..but in reality that's all that matters.. If I didn't already have the perfect man for me the things I do.. Lol I'm just kidding..😍😍😍 seriously though his undying loyalty to his wife is astoundingly mythical in the days we live in there are only a few men who are capable of such profound caring honesty..I'm glad and thankful I have this...😄😄😄

[@prettyhollypolly7553]

This is what makes Anna Karenina such a great story. There is no heroin or villain. Neither Karenin or Anna are heroes or villains. Those stories make you think deeper. Anna was a lost soul who made impulsive yet understandable decisions but she suffered direly.

[@ibashcommunists6847]

She made dumb decisions and suffered rightly. Thou shall not commit adultery.

[@yesntmayhaps3509]

Justice for this man tho

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

Poor Karenin.

[@helioliskfire5954]

Karenin is not as likeable in the book nor Anna as despicable. But really, I love all the characters in the book.

[@watermelon520b]

yeah i feel like in the movie they projected some of book karenin’s social climbing obsessions onto anna, and downplayed their marriage of convenience.

[@bappppp]

I disliked them both

[@saradj1159]

The frustration he feels towards Anna affected his already cold behavior towards his son. Not something a good man would do

[@chapter_fan]

stfu you play the kardashian game

[@slyasleep]

@@chapter_fan steady now.

[@Timi12010425]

If you read the book, you would know why he seemed like a cold person. Don't rely too much on movies. The book is thick because it is abundant. ETA: Also, you do know that in the end he becomes a better father to his son and Anna's orphaned daughter, right?

[@XOXOLADIDA]

What really irks me about a lot of these comments is that most people are judging Anna by modern standards. What many fail to realize is that Anna was never afforded the luxury of a passionate lover affair in her youth. Young women were introduced into Russian society at around 18 and usually married off within the next two years (or else she would be seen as some sort of old maid). Girls were expected to be virginal and naïve. Whereas young men were not judged for their sexual escapades (if any). Perhaps if Anna was able to have a Vronksy-type dalliance in her youth, she would have appreciated the quieter nature and stability of Karenin as she grew older and started to seek a husband. But she was not. She married a man she did not love, who was twenty years her senior, who did not try to romance his younger bride, who was consumed by his work and all because society deemed that that was what constituted a successful marriage.

[@user-ut2ef6ck5c]

PREACH

[@misssoso5859]

None of this shit justifies her cheating on a decent man. Fuck her, seriously. Since when was a lack of passion in one's youth a justification for adultery? ugh, unbelievable

[@lemfarba4827]

Poor girl, she had it rough. If she had been born male and poor she would have been sent to work doing back breaking labor at the age of six. If she was born male and rich she'd probably have to serve in the military. As a rich female she was lucky to have lived such an easy pampered life.

[@momokat4082]

@@misssoso5859 Let's not forget she also had a son she should've think about before putting her social life at risk by being adulterous

[@emawerna]

She was probably too emotionally immature when she got married. Her feelings or lack thereof towards her potential spouse should have gotten higher consideration. Having said that, Anna always had the opportunity NOT to do what was expected of her. For example, one of my own great great grandmothers (circa 1900) worked every day of her life, shacked up with a new beau each year to help pay the rent on a fox fur farm, and ended up with kids from several different men. Anna just couldn't have her cake (high social status) and eat it too (passionate love affair). A "passionate love affair" was a bigger deal back then than it would be today. Circumstances were different back then for young women at risk of getting pregnant out-of-wedlock. This was before medicine gave us birth control and safe abortions. This was before paternity could be established scientifically, meaning no way to prove paternity in court (hence no child support). The love affair was also more selfish of her than it would be today. Without paternity testing, the spouse of the cheater would never know the true paternity of "his" children. He would be forever denied closure. A fine mist of uncertainty will forever cloud his bloodline and might even affect his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Not only were unwanted children FAR more likely, but the costs fell entirely on the women and on the bastard children themselves. Society made its laws and customs (including marrying women off early) to prevent unwanted children and not to hurt women.

[@williambacon9843]

God Keria, why do you have to be so dam beautiful.

[@chummanki9711]

Anna followed her heart and disaster unfolded Kitty followed her gut and has a happy fate 🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌

[@phoenixangel5073]

Gut heart same thing

[@kathrynorozco5416]

She filled connivence. She would have married Vyronsky if Anna hadn’t showed up and also be in a loveless marriage because he never loved Kitty and probably would have a mistress. The cycle would continue

[@sweetheart436]

It's GK from calm sleep stories I wish you'd bring those back Chris is pretty good on there too but I GK very much and I haven't heard him except for in the adv

[@wolfgangamadeusmozart7505]

Some of the comments here are mind boggling. There is no circumstance where cheating or adultery is or should be justified. Stop normalizing infidelity with your garbage excuses. Next.

[@alejandramoreira1602]

Maybe read the book again

[@kaylajames9334]

Preach, Mozart. Tell it like it is.

[@ad8447]

@@alejandramoreira1602 read the book. Still find her in the wrong.

[@alejandramoreira1602]

@@ad8447 i read it too in 2015 :)

[@AllaK-zn9zf]

😌👍👍👍

[@TequilaMockingBird91]

This is why arranged marriages, such as this, were such an egregious idea.

[@user-ci4rs4ti8h]

Очень жалко Каренина ,и Анну . А Вронского нет,хотя он так юн..

[@dashawn4350]

All for love " 🤔

[@rosegilliland220]

So she’s been in a relationship (movies) with both dumbledore and voldemort. Hilarious.

[@cappy2282]

Women: "Of coarse Alexey was a good husband... didn't you notice thats Jude Law!!??" lol (Alexey was awesome but he wasn't the perfect husband)

[@rohiths3554]

He was absolutely fine. In fact he'd go on to adopt the daughter of Anna and Vronsky after Anna killed herself

[@beautifulsoul1790]

@@rohiths3554 well after she killed herself but before he wasn't the perfect man

[@ad8447]

@@beautifulsoul1790 what is a perfect man according to you? Am curious.

[@wetpawprints4136]

Those who are saying Karenin is such a wonderful man and oh boo hoo for him, have never read the book. This man did not love her. He knocked her up and married her out of "obligation"

[@tiaaaron3278]

Anna Karenina has had multiple adaptations and not all of them have to follow the source material.

[@MoonlightWalnut]

I read the book first but I found myself being sympathetic towards karenin despite being a girl myself. Though I can’t remember specifics, I think I remember him continuously asking and enquiring about her health even after they separated, despite her continuing to fall into ruin. And maybe he did not ‘love’ her, but true love like kitty and lenin’s was almost impossible to find and everyone was marrying for status and reputation. Even after anna left karenin’s reputation had already been hit terribly (and was acquainted with another woman? Can’t remember her name, it was only after anna left though.) I think he does care for her, even if it is at least partially only for reputation that is more than can be said of anna, who acts incredibly naively and without consideration of the consequences, which ultimately leads to her being cast from society, constant fighting with vronsky and her eventual downfall. She never really thought about her future or what she would actually do if she separated from karenin. Vronsky in the end finds her insufferable. Both are flawed characters, but I feel like the books portray her in a poorer light. (But that’s my interpretation! It was a really long train ride...)

[@sitcomchristian6886]

I beg to differ. Karenin was a decent guy who held himself to very high ethical standards. He never abused her. He ensured Anna was looked after, as well as their son (he could have just written them off and ignored them). He adopted her love child with Vronsky. Obligatory love can yield to more romantic affection over time - many people in arranged marriages experience this. Just because he wasn't the pillar of romance certainly doesn't mean it's fine to cheat on him and publicly humiliate him. Wild notions, I know.

[@rivertide3228]

That doesn't justify her cheating

[@ineffablegabe]

I have read the books and I believe that Anna was a cheating moron and her husband deserved better. 🙄

[@shelbi7113]

You guys have never had a loveless marriage. He cares for her because he is religious and they are bond by God. He has no idea what love really is cause he would have noticed atleast something weird with those two together. He never did anything for his son he never played his role in the family it was just work and that's it. There is no passion.

[@kasimshaikh3750]

Another dumbass observation.

[@rosannabaptisto1806]

I'm not here to judge..but there is nothing wrong with being reserved, especially during the time period! As for not "noticing" right away this means nothing, for maybe he just didn't think too much on it because he trusted her to such an extent (like later in the movie when he told that one lady that his wife was beyond reproach when she was trying to tell him what pretty much everyone knew) maybe he was clouded by his love for her to not see although he loved her however reserved...He failed to see that SHE was not happy! but Idk in the beginning things are often so deeply passionate that your mind may get clouded by the rawness of it all you know ( I'm speaking of Anna and Vronsky of course) but those things often fade and that's probably one of the many tragedies in this movie! but just an opinion and hope everyone is well! ✌

[@amorepsyche808]

LOL so it is better to abandon your son because utterly blind by passion for a playboy?? Vronsky loose interest in the end for her! Karenin is always there waiting for her...BIG difference

[@priscillajimenez27]

I feel like the affair had no love. Just lust. Reach comes and goes.

[@izzy4575]

@@priscillajimenez27 Absolutely, it was lust, not love. Love doesn’t destroy you.

[@dreamsteddybearsmaster]

I never got it... am I meant to sympathise with her? She is just annoying and selfish. Nothing more. Not even beauty can make up for it

[@alyssavictoria7645]

I just finished the book and I completely agree. I struggled with my feelings for her character the entire time. It seems we were meant to take pity on her but I found it very difficult to like her when all was said and done.

[@dreamsteddybearsmaster]

@@alyssavictoria7645 Sorry for the late reply! IKR! She was just an entitled user!

[@raziyaunnisa7680]

Dumb commentators who didn't even read the book and just come here and started victim blaming lol, It's normal to justify cheating you should show husband /wife as emotion less, cruel, abuse one if everything is good with them then show as arrange marriage or passion less marriage

[@queenberuthiel5469]

Right? Sure there's complexity in their situation but the fact still remains that Anna cheated on her husband IN her (and Karenin's) own home. She doesn't even tried to hide it. Why won't they blame Vronsky instead of dragging the person who was being cheated on?

[@sweetheart436]

Cap Libra ♎

[@sylviatina8359]

Pray the black gilligan Island, real color purple family to the Farest tropical Island WE NEVER SEEN THE BIBLE REALIZE. NEVER ACHIEVED ANYTHING HERE. Call police tell them to get us out of her!

[@PrincessofErised]

Shame that Keira Knightley was the best they could do for the lead role. She is one of the worst actresses and it is even more apparent when she appears in scenes with top actors like Jude Law, who was superb. She is beautiful, no doubt, but her acting is so obvious that it takes you out of the story. Shame.

[@beautifulsoul1790]

She is the perfect actress especially for these roles

[@SnazzyArcade]

She excels in roles like this.

[@izzy4575]

I disagree, she is a good actress. I never think she is acting when I watch her performance. In this scene, she makes me dislike her, and I really like her, especially in Pride and Prejudice.