Skip to content
Eye Logo link to homepageEye Film Museum Logo, link to homepage
still The Luzhin Defence (Marleen Gorris, GB/FR 2000)

The Luzhin Defence

Marleen Gorris / GB, 2000 / 109 min.

Alexander Luhzin the obsessive chess genius experiences scarcely manageable emotions when he falls in love with beautiful Russian aristocrat Natalia. Guido van der Werve selected Marleen Gorris’ film of a novel by Nabokov for his film programme to accompany the exhibition at Eye.

poster The Luzhin Defence (Marleen Gorris, GB/FR 2000)

Italy, 1920. Eccentric grandmaster Alexander Luhzin (John Turturro) attends the world chess championships. He plays like never before, nothing seeming capable of breaking him from his cocoon of genius. Until, that is, he becomes enchanted by the beautiful Russian aristocrat Natalia (Emily Watson).

The screening of The Luhzin Defence is programmed to accompany the talk - about chess, film and art - by grandmaster Hans Ree (22 March, 19:15) who was invited by Van der Werve.

Details

Director

Marleen Gorris

Production year

2000

Country

GB

Original title

The Luzhin Defence

Length

109 min.

Language

English

Format

35mm

Part of

Guido van der Werve

In the world of Guido van der Werve, Romanticism, nature and the sublime are never far away. His films explore the futility of existence, yet they also capture its endless beauty.

Learn more
campaign image Guido van der Werve – Palpable Futility
still The Luzhin Defence (Marleen Gorris, GB/FR 2000)
still The Luzhin Defence (Marleen Gorris, GB/FR 2000)

Planning on having a drink or a bite to eat? Book online for Eye Bar Restaurant.
Share your love for film and become a member of the Eye Society.

NLEN
;

Current exhibition

  • 18 januari — 1 juni 2025

    Nuri Bilge Ceylan

    Inner Landscapes

Films, talks & events

Show everything

for anytime

in all languages

Sort by