LEO TOLSTOY’S ANNA KARENINA

This is a large, thoughtful adaptation of Tolstoy that captures the novel’s scope and philosophical essence. Its central warning is unmistakable: adultery destroys lives. The film also moves toward prayer, confession, forgiveness, and faith in Jesus Christ.

But the path there is difficult. The story takes viewers through a vivid adulterous relationship, along with sex, nudity, suicide, violence, and pain. The source review finds that some of this could have been portrayed off screen without weakening the film’s moral force.

The movie’s Christian convictions give it real value, while its content makes it unsuitable for children and young teens. If you are an adult who can engage its mature material discerningly, it is worth seeing; otherwise, choose something else.

Constantine Levin loves Kitty, but she is drawn to Count Vronsky instead. Vronsky then sees Anna Karenina, a married woman, and pursues her with immediate desire.

As Anna and Vronsky move toward an illicit relationship, the choices of several Russian families begin to collide. Alongside their story, Levin searches for the meaning of life while Tolstoy’s larger questions about romanticism, society, and Christianity take shape.

Three stars means a substantial, well-crafted adaptation that falls short of greatness. The film captures more of Tolstoy’s scope and philosophical essence than earlier versions, but it lacks the emotional intensity and empathy of the 1935 Greta Garbo classic.

Its historical accuracy is laudable. The costumes are beautiful, and the sets are flawless. The main weakness is ambition: trying to contain so much of Tolstoy’s story reduces the emotional force. Even so, the film’s moral argument remains clear and powerful.

The film presents romantic philosophy as destructive, particularly in its effect on Russian society. Against that, it presents Christianity as offering deeper strength, greater wisdom, prayer, forgiveness, and a way to communicate with the Creator. The story’s governing moral claim is that adultery brings death, while Christian conviction offers grace and truth.

The film’s Christian worldview is strong, though the source notes some anti-biblical and anti-Christian comments. Its Christian characters move toward confession, forgiveness, and faith in Jesus Christ, while the adulterous relationship is shown as ruinous rather than liberating. The work therefore aligns with biblical teaching about sexual faithfulness and the need for forgiveness, even as its depiction of sin is mature and explicit.

The film also connects romantic individualism with the weakening of society and the opening of the door to Communism. Its cultural argument is that private desire cannot sustain a healthy community; deeper truth and moral order are needed.

The film’s longing for truth and forgiveness finds its answer in Christ: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

This is a beautiful, ambitious, morally serious adaptation with a clear Christian message. Its mature sexual content and other troubling material make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a safer family choice, see.