Anna Karenina (2001) (2 Discs)

A daring new Masterpiece Theatre adaptation of Tolstoy's classic novel, Anna Karenina. In 1872, Anna Karenina travels by train from St. Petersburg to Moscow to sort out her brother’s troubled marriage. While there, a dashing cavalry officer Vronsky falls madly in love with her. Anna succumbs and experiences true passion for the first time in her life. Eventually, she gets pregnant and confronts her husband Karenin with her infidelities. He threatens divorce but they reconcile as she lies near death after delivering Vronsky’s child. Desperate for Anna and the child, and humiliated by Karenin’s forgiveness, Vronsky shoots himself. Recovered from his suicide attempt, Vronsky visits Anna. They realize they can’t live apart and move to Italy beyond the reach of scandalized Russian society. But they soon return. Anna realizes if they are to be accepted then she must divorce Karenin. Influenced by a pious friend, he refuses, plunging Anna into despair and paranoia. Suspecting that Vronsky no longer loves her, she takes control of her destiny with desperate measures. Starring Helen McCrory, Kevin McKidd (Topsy Turvy, Trainspotting), and Stephen Dillane (The Real Thing).