Anna Karenina is moviedirector Joe Wright’s bold, theatrical new vision of the Russian classic novel written by Leo Tolstoy. The timeless story explores the capacity for love that surges through the human heart, while illuminating the lavish society that was imperial Russia. The time is 1874. Vibrant and beautiful, Anna Karenina has what any of her contemporaries would aspire to; she is the wife of Karenin, a high-ranking government official to whom she has borne a son, and her social standing in St. Petersburg could scarcely be higher. She journeys to Moscow after a letter from her philandering brother Oblonsky arrives, asking for Anna to come and help save his marriage to Dolly. En route, Anna makes the acquaintance of Countess Vronsky, who is then met at the train station by her son, the dashing cavalry officer Vronsky. When Anna is introduced to Vronsky, there is a mutual spark of instant attraction that cannot – and will not – be ignored.

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui helmed the choreography of Anna Karenina. A lot of Eastman dancers participated in the dance scenes and Eastmandancer Guro Nagelhus Schia made her acting debut in the movie.