The Luzhin Defence (2000): cast, story & where to watch
2000 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 2000, The Luzhin Defence is a drama and romance film directed by Marleen Gorris, running about 109 minutes. “Two worlds collide when an eccentric genius falls in love with a strong-willed society beauty.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Based upon the novel by Vladimir Nabokov, a chess grandmaster travels to Italy in the 1920s to play in a tournament and falls in love.
Who’s in it. The Luzhin Defence stars John Turturro as Aleksandr Ivanovich 'Sascha' Luzhin, Emily Watson as Natalia Katkov, Geraldine James as Vera, Natalia's Mother and Stuart Wilson as Valentionov, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, The Luzhin Defence has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Luzhin Defence page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Luzhin Defence tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Luzhin Defence (2000)?
- In US, The Luzhin Defence is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Luzhin Defence worth watching?
- The Luzhin Defence holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Luzhin Defence?
- The Luzhin Defence stars John Turturro, Emily Watson, Geraldine James, Stuart Wilson and Fabio Sartor.
- When was The Luzhin Defence released?
- The Luzhin Defence was released in 2000, with a runtime of about 109 minutes.