Classic literary remakes

Islamabad

Film: Anna Karenina

Director: Joe Wright

Adapted by Tom Stoppard from novel by Leo Tolstoy

Cast: Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Classic literary remakes like ‘Le Miserables’, ‘Romeo & Juliet’, ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘Great Expectations’, ‘Wuthering Heights’ and several other titles have been repeatedly adapted over the years in many countries for screen and TV. The film makers in the Sub-Continent have washed their hands in this. ‘Le Miserables’ as ‘Salakheen’ here and ‘Kundan’ in India. Who knows who copied ‘Romeo & Juliet’ into ‘Heer Ranjha’ or other around. Pretty debatable!

Lok Virsa Film Club Mandwa now brings in Leo Tolsty's classic ‘Anna Karenina’ at its media center on Saturday August 27 at 5p.m.. This is not the Russian version shown before. This classic once came with superstar Greeta Garbo in 1935, directed by Clarence brown. Twelve years later, Vivien Leigh (heroine of ‘Gone With The Wind’) played the married woman who wanted to live on her own terms, and was in love with a military officer. This version was directed by Julien Duvivier. Anna has been a controversial heroine for small and big screen. Leo Tolstoy himself had to face thrashing during 1875-78 on coming out with this classic. The film brings out the aristocratic life in St. Petersburg with feudal Russia playing in the backdrop. Many notable writers called it a work of art and described it as best ever written. The 1912 British screen version has been criticized for being stylised and heavily theatrical but it is definitely an ambitious effort.

This is romantic tragedy of doomed heroine, someone who has broken the rules and women begin to avoid and hater her. Russian divorce laws in 1870s were anything but liberal in those rigid years. The romance is challenged by society with its strict taboos and rejections. This brings isolation, suspicion, accusations and finally tragic death.

The film was made in England. Many critics believe that classic adaptations should be filmed on actual locations where the novel's events actually occurred and the characters must speak in the original language. That is against all rule of commercial cinema and its box office requirements. A Russian novel filmed in England with international cast (mostly British) works well here. This is a bold and creative response to novel. The film was nominated for several Oscars and won for Best Costume Design.

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