This was a scene full of careful manoeuvring, examination and lust as the two lovers become intimate for the first time. The highlight of the entire film for me was a ball in which some of the central characters danced. The problems that I have with some period dramas such as dull ideas and duller characters felt a million miles away as I watched, transfixed with a smile on my face. It whizzed along thanks to the dialogue, plot and interesting design. The first half of this film was probably my favourite half of any I've seen in the cinema this year. His tale of love, family, hardship and politics feels slightly brushed to one side which is a shame as his arc also points towards the social upheaval which would greet Russia in the coming decades. Levin is in love with an attractive and highly sought after young Princess, Kitty (Alicia Vikander). One area which I thought was slightly forgotten was the fascinating part of the plot regarding Levin (Domhnall Gleeson). The themes of love, infidelity, trust and city vs countryside-life charge out of the screen and most are tackled very well. I have never read the source novel and have in fact never managed to finish any of the great works of Russian literature (the names don't help) so the plot was new to me. This was then adapted by Oscar winning screenwriter Tom Stoppard who handed Wright and his cast a beautifully well crafted script which despite its complexities, rolls of the tongues of the talented cast. Joe Wright was lucky in a way in that he started off with a fantastic story, written by Tolstoy.

It's a stylistic decision which was probably met with scepticism by studio bosses and the like but works incredibly well to bring to life the characters which themselves are so wonderfully written by Tolstoy. Actors will walk from one part of the theatre to another with sets and costumes changing around them, all with the hustle and bustle of both a real theatre and lively city. Wright places most of his plot within the confines of a dilapidated theatre and has his actors make use of the stage, stalls and behind the scenes areas when forming the sets of late Tsarist Saint Petersburg. Director Joe Wright's adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's 1877 novel Anna Karenina is one of the most visually stunning and artistically bold films I've seen in quite some time.

Free Anna Karenina for iphone download