Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina (2012) is a stylized adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel, blending theatre staging with cinematic drama. Below is a complete, spoiler-filled breakdown of the film with all requested sections.
Detailed Summary
The Stage Is Set: A Life of Russian Aristocracy
The film uniquely opens in a literal theatre, symbolizing the performative nature of Russian high society. Anna Karenina (Keira Knightley) is introduced as a respected aristocratic woman, wife to the dutiful but emotionally distant statesman Alexei Karenin (Jude Law). Their relationship is stable but hollow, hinted through quiet moments of isolation and unspoken longing.
Anna Meets Vronsky
Anna travels to Moscow to help her brother Stiva manage his marital issues. There she meets the charming cavalry officer Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Their instant connection is powerful, dangerous, and — as the audience quickly senses — the event that will begin Anna’s unraveling.
The Forbidden Affair Begins
Despite her attempts to resist, Anna enters a passionate affair with Vronsky. Society quickly notices. While Karenin maintains a cold dignity, Anna becomes torn between passion and reputation, each choice bruising her sense of identity. The staging constantly shifts between theatre sets and open spaces, a visual metaphor for her internal imprisonment.
The Collapse of Reputation
As the affair becomes public, Anna becomes increasingly isolated from society and even from Vronsky, whose love feels more inconsistent under social pressure. She is shunned at events, whispered about, and gradually loses her sense of belonging. Her tragedy becomes not just a romantic fall but a psychological spiral.
Movie Ending
The climax follows Anna’s descent into jealousy, insecurity, and emotional instability. Feeling abandoned by Vronsky and convinced that society has completely rejected her, Anna’s anxiety manifests in obsessive thoughts. The film builds tension by repeatedly showing trains and tracks — a symbolic thread throughout the novel and movie.
In her final moments, Anna, overwhelmed by despair and believing Vronsky no longer loves her, throws herself under a moving train. The film does not soften the moment; instead, it portrays her death as the culmination of societal cruelty, emotional suffocation, and tragic miscommunication.
The ending then shifts to Vronsky joining the Serbian army, implying he seeks death out of guilt, and to Levin and Kitty living a quiet, hopeful life in the countryside, offering a foil of peace and moral clarity to Anna’s emotional chaos. The contrast is intentional and thematically sharp.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. Anna Karenina (2012) does not include any post-credits or mid-credits scenes.
Type of Movie
A romantic period drama infused with stylized theatrical elements. It blends classic literary tragedy with highly visual, symbolic stagecraft, making it both emotional and artistically experimental.
Cast
- Keira Knightley as Anna Arkadyevna Karenina
- Jude Law as Alexei Karenin
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Count Vronsky
- Domhnall Gleeson as Konstantin Levin
- Alicia Vikander as Kitty
- Kelly Macdonald as Dolly
- Matthew Macfadyen as Stiva
- Olivia Williams as Countess Vronskaya
Film Music and Composer
Composed by Dario Marianelli, the score blends classical and waltz motifs to match the film’s theatrical staging. Marianelli and Joe Wright previously collaborated on Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, and the musical precision here plays a critical role in conveying emotion and societal constraint.
Filming Locations and Their Importance
- Shepperton Studios, UK – Main filming area where the elaborate theatrical sets were constructed. The film’s unique “play-within-a-movie” style heavily depended on these controlled environments.
- St. Petersburg & Moscow, Russia (exteriors) – Some exteriors and background plates enhance authenticity but most of the visual world is stylized rather than realistic.
The locations serve the film’s artistic vision: not realism, but interpretation. The sets reflect Anna’s internal conflict — sometimes open and airy, sometimes claustrophobic and stage-bound.
Awards and Nominations
- Academy Awards
- Won: Best Costume Design
- Nominated: Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Original Score
- BAFTA Awards
- Won: Best Production Design, Best Costume Design
- Multiple additional nominations
- The film was widely recognized for technical excellence, especially visual style and music.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Joe Wright originally planned a traditional adaptation but radically shifted to the theatrical staging concept late in pre-production.
- Keira Knightley studied accounts of Russian aristocratic women’s social constraints to portray Anna’s psychological breakdown more realistically.
- Many scene transitions were achieved using stage crew members on camera, changing backdrops as characters walked — all carefully choreographed.
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s blond hair and mustache were chosen to contrast visually with Knightley and Law, emphasizing emotional and aesthetic conflict.
- Dancers were hired not only for dance scenes but to help choreograph everyday movement on the “stage.”
Inspirations and References
The film is based on Leo Tolstoy’s 1877 novel, often considered one of the greatest works of literature. Joe Wright infused influences from:
- Russian stage productions
- 19th-century aristocratic etiquette manuals
- Silent film melodramas, especially in expressive visual storytelling
- The metaphor of life as performance, drawn directly from early interpretations of Tolstoy’s thematic intentions
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
- Several scenes between Anna and Vronsky were trimmed to tighten pacing.
- An extended ending focused on Levin’s family life existed in early cuts but was removed for thematic focus on Anna’s tragedy.
- No known alternate recorded ending changes Anna’s fate — the conclusion is considered narratively essential.
Book Adaptation Differences
- The film condenses multiple storylines, placing heavier emphasis on Anna rather than Levin (who is major in the novel).
- The theatrical setting is unique to the film and not present in the novel.
- Anna’s psychological decline is more stylized and symbolic in the film.
- Some characters and subplots are shortened or combined due to runtime.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Anna and Vronsky’s first meeting at the train station — foreshadowing her fate.
- The grand ballroom dance sequence with stylized choreography.
- Anna being shunned at the opera — a turning point in her emotional collapse.
- The heated confrontation between Anna and Karenin after the affair is exposed.
- Anna’s final moments on the train tracks.
Iconic Quotes
- “Sometimes I think I’m happier when I hurt you.” – Anna
- “I forgive you.” – Karenin, in one of his gentlest and most heartbreaking scenes
- “You can’t ask me to be someone I’m not.” – Vronsky
- “All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.” – Levin
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The shift from stage sets to real outdoor scenes mirrors Anna’s mental state: the more unstable she becomes, the more the world breaks away from theatrical order.
- Karenin’s wardrobe grows darker as his emotional turmoil deepens.
- The frequent imagery of trains appears whenever Anna feels cornered, symbolizing fate and inevitability.
- Vronsky frequently appears in white early on, symbolizing romantic idealization, shifting to darker tones as the relationship deteriorates.
Trivia
- This is Keira Knightley’s third collaboration with Joe Wright.
- Domhnall Gleeson and Alicia Vikander’s storyline was filmed with a warmer, more natural color palette to contrast Anna’s world.
- Costumes were intentionally exaggerated to heighten theatrical effect and won an Oscar.
- The cast rehearsed many scenes as if they were performing live theatre.
Why Watch?
Because Anna Karenina (2012) is not just a period drama — it’s a bold reinterpretation of a literary classic. Its visual innovation, powerful performances, and emotionally charged narrative make it a standout experience for fans of prestige cinema.
Director’s Other Movies
- Pride & Prejudice (2005)
- Atonement (2007)
- The Soloist (2009)
- Hanna (2011)
- Darkest Hour (2017)
- Cyrano (2021)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Atonement (2007)
- Pride & Prejudice (2005)
- The Great Gatsby (2013)
- The Danish Girl (2015)
- Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)
