Anna Karenina

Anna Karenina (2012)

Timing: 2:10 (130 min)

6.723/10
2216

6.838/10
129108

6.6/10
112000

All about film

Video 12

Photo 17

Actors and characters

Release date

2012-09-06

Country

United Kingdom, United States

Production

Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Working Title Films, Working Title Films

Genre

Drama, Romance, History

Budget

$0

Revenue

$68 929 150

Website

Director

Joe Wright

Actors

Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Matthew Macfadyen, Eric MacLennan, Kelly Macdonald, Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Olivia Williams, Ruth Wilson
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster, Liza Chasin

Operator

Seamus McGarvey

Composer

Dario Marianelli

Artist

Audition

Jina Jay, Dixie Chassay

Editing

Melanie Oliver
All team (83)

• The film is based on Leo Tolstoy's novel "Anna Karenina" (1878).
• Robert Pattinson was offered the role of Vronsky.
• James McAvoy was considered for the role of Levin.
• Saoirse Ronan declined the role of Kitty due to the film's lengthy shooting schedule (from autumn 2011 to the end of spring 2012), as she was scheduled to star in two other projects ('Byzantium' and 'The Host') during that period, playing the lead in each. Alicia Vikander ultimately landed the role of Kitty.
• Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch and Andrea Riseborough were also considered for the lead roles in the film.
• Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch and Cate Blanchett had previously worked with director Joe Wright on various films.
• Part of the filming took place in Russia, specifically in Karelia on Kizhi Island.
• Cinematographer Philippe Rousselot was forced to leave the project at the pre-production stage to undergo back surgery. Excruciating pain from sciatica left him with no choice. He was replaced by Seamus McGarvey, who had often worked with director Joe Wright.
• There was a moment when Joe Wright considered having the actors speak with Russian accents, but he changed his mind, believing it would be difficult for him to assess their acting.
• Inspired by the work of British historian Orlando Figes in Natasha's Dance (2002), Joe Wright decided on an experimental approach to convey the essence of the story. Much of the film was shot in a closed theater built from scratch in Shepperton, UK. Scenes on the skating rink, train station, and stables were filmed in the upper part of the theater. Toy trains and dollhouses were used during the filming of panoramic shots. The only member of the main cast allowed to leave the theater was Donal Gleeson (Levin). Wright wanted to emphasize the fact that only the character of Levin reflects the real world.