Anna Karenina

Anna Karenina

Year: 1997

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: English

Director: Bernard Rose

RomanceDramaMoving relationship storiesPassion and romanceEnduring stories of family and marital drama

In the opulent circles of 19th‑century St. Petersburg, Anna Karenina, the wife of a Russian imperial minister, follows her heart and embarks on a passionate affair with the dashing cavalry officer Count Vronsky, igniting a scandal that threatens her marriage, reputation, and place in high society.

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Timeline & Setting – Anna Karenina (1997)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Anna Karenina (1997). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1870s-1880s Russia

Set in Imperial Russia, the action centers on the rigid social codes of the nobility. Ballrooms, salons, and country estates anchor the narrative, contrasting private longing with public propriety. The period is marked by a tension between tradition and the stirrings of change within a decaying aristocratic order.

Location

Moscow, St. Petersburg

The story unfolds across Russia's imperial heartland, with Moscow's ballrooms and St. Petersburg salons serving as stages for romance and social politics. The settings are opulent and tightly governed by public scrutiny, reflecting a society where appearance meist actions. Key scenes also occur at the railway station, highlighting the era's mix of tradition and modernization.

🏙️ Moscow 🏛️ Tsarist Russia 🎭 Aristocratic society

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:41

Main Characters – Anna Karenina (1997)

Meet the key characters of Anna Karenina (1997), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Anna Karenina (Sophie Marceau)

Anna is a beautiful, intelligent woman trapped in a loveless marriage who seeks happiness through a forbidden affair. Her passion for Vronsky clashes with social expectations, leading to alienation, depression, and self-medication. The arc ends in a tragic, self-destructive choice that exposes the limits of rigid propriety.

💔 Love 🏛️ Society ⚖️ Duty

Count Alexei Vronsky (Sean Bean)

A dashing army officer torn between passionate love and social reputation. Vronsky pursues Anna with intensity but fears losing status and respect. His choices spark tragedy and he experiences deep emotional conflict, culminating in a somber sense of loss.

💖 Passion 🧭 Desire 🏛️ Society

Konstantin Levin (Alfred Molina)

A thoughtful landowner seeking meaning through family, work, and faith. Levin serves as a moral counterpoint to Anna and Vronsky, often pondering life’s purpose and the human cost of romance. He embodies restraint, humility, and a commitment to personal integrity.

🧭 Morality 🌿 Simplicity 🏡 Family

Count Alexei Karenin (James Fox)

A stern, dutiful husband whose pride and adherence to social codes drive much of the conflict. Karenin's refusal to grant a divorce reveals the limits of law and reputation when confronted with personal heartbreak. He embodies cold propriety but also capacity for vulnerability.

⚖️ Duty 🕊️ Restraint 🏛️ Society

Kitty Shcherbatksy (Mia Kirshner)

A young, kind-hearted woman who matures through love and disappointment. Kitty's evolving relationship with Levin contrasts with Anna's catastrophe, offering a path toward healing and resilience. She embodies hope, adaptability, and social grace.

💞 Youth 🧩 Growth 🕊️ Hope

Countess Lydia Ivanovna (Fiona Shaw)

A sharp, influential confidante whose words sway husbands and wives alike. Lydia embodies intellectual curiosity and social manipulation within the salon culture. Her perspectives illuminate the undercurrents of polite society.

🗝️ Influence 💬 Gossip ⚖️ Judgment

Dolly (Saskia Wickham)

A member of the close-knit aristocratic circle, Dolly embodies loyalty and steadfastness among friends. Her presence underscores social obligation and the support networks that bind characters together. She provides quiet stability amid upheaval.

👭 Friendship 🧭 Moderation 🕊️ Loyalty

Maria (Kseniya Rappoport)

A member of the aristocratic circle whose presence adds texture to the social web. Maria acts as a conduit for rumors and gossip, reflecting how information shapes reputations in the era’s high society. Her role highlights the visibility and scrutiny of the elite.

👀 Society 🧭 Secrets 💬 Gossip

Countess Nordston (Justine Waddell)

A socialite within the upper echelon whose alliances and conversations move the plot. Nordston embodies the power of status and the way friendships function as strategic instruments. Her presence reinforces the tension between appearance and reality.

👑 Aristocracy 🗣️ Social climbing ⚖️ Reputation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:41

Major Themes – Anna Karenina (1997)

Explore the central themes of Anna Karenina (1997), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Love vs Society

Anna's and Vronsky's passionate affair collides with strict social expectations. The lovers chase happiness while gossip, reputation, and conventions threaten to destroy them. The film probes how societal rules curb personal fulfillment and precipitate tragedy.

🎭 Societal Pressure

A rigid aristocratic circle judges personal choices, forcing characters to navigate rumors and alliances. Public image often eclipses private desire, revealing the hollow rituals sustaining the class system. The drama exposes how appearances confine individuals.

🧭 Choice and Consequence

Characters must weigh desire against duty, private happiness against public reputation. The narrative tracks the fallout of each decision on themselves and those around them. It questions whether fulfillment exists within the boundaries of society.

🕯️ Despair and Endings

Despair pushes characters toward drastic actions, culminating in tragedy and a stark reckoning with love, guilt, and resilience. The narrative reframes personal loss within the context of social rejection. Endings illuminate the fragile line between passion and ruin.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:41

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Anna Karenina Summary

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