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Trailer

The Luzhin Defence

2000Movie1 h 49 min

DramaRomance
55
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.8Metacritic64–Rotten Tomatoes58%69%

A deeply romantic, profoundly sad romance movie about history and the mind, with standout characters.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want fast pacing

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Not for laughs, scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

Two worlds collide when an eccentric genius falls in love with a strong-willed society beauty.

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.

Feels like

  • Romantic Drama
  • Psychological Study
  • Period Piece
  • Chess Themed
  • Melancholic
  • Tragic Love Story
  • Literary Adaptation
  • Character Driven
  • Intellectual

Cast

15 of 15

Crew

Directed by
Marleen Gorris
Written by
Vladimir Nabokov, Peter Berry
Produced by
Philippe Guez, Eric Robison, Louis Becker
Music by
Alexandre Desplat

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 21, 2000 · 1 h 49 min · Romance, Drama

Released
August 21, 2000
Runtime
1 h 49 min
Genres
Romance, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
France, United Kingdom, Hungary, Italy, United States
Budget
$2 million
Available in
9 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream The Luzhin Defence?"

Questions about The Luzhin Defence

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Luzhin Defence?

Prime

In the United States, The Luzhin Defence streams on Prime. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 2 other countries.

Is The Luzhin Defence worth watching?

55
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 55 (IMDb 6.8, Rotten Tomatoes 58%, and Metacritic 64).

Is The Luzhin Defence good for date night?

and 3 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightIntergenerational

Yes: romance is 9 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Is The Luzhin Defence plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.