The Shaping of Story: Narrative Techniques in the 2012 Film

The 2012 film "Anna Karenina" utilizes a prominent narrative technique by setting much of the story within:

• The actual palaces and estates of 19th-century Russia.

• A series of flashbacks narrated by Anna.

• A grand, often decaying, theater.

• The perspective of a traditional omniscient narrator.

The film interweaves the story of Anna Karenina with that of Konstantin Levin. This narrative choice primarily serves to:

• Provide comic relief from the tragic central plot.

• Offer a contrasting perspective on love, society, and personal fulfillment.

• Detail the agricultural practices of 19th-century Russia.

• Introduce a completely unrelated subplot to extend the film's length.

Instead of relying on a traditional voice-over narrator, the 2012 adaptation of "Anna Karenina" primarily conveys its narrative through:

• Direct quotes from Leo Tolstoy's novel displayed on screen.

• The detailed thoughts and inner monologues of the characters.

• Visual storytelling elements like set design, cinematography, and character interactions.

• A chorus of actors who comment on the events as they unfold.

The pervasive theatrical setting in the film acts as a central __________, representing the artificiality of Russian high society.

The film's narrative is streamlined, primarily focusing on Anna's tragic love __________.

Match each narrative concept with its correct description based on the 2012 film adaptation of Anna Karenina:

• Diction and Syntax

• The film relies heavily on visual storytelling and dialogue to present character motivations without internal narration, requiring viewers to interpret actions and expressions.

• Influence of Perspective

• The film's selective portrayal of characters, emphasizing or downplaying certain flaws or virtues, invites viewers to recognize subtle biases influencing character portrayals, particularly evident in the more sympathetic depiction of Karenin.

• Perspective and Information

• The deliberate use of stylized language and carefully constructed dialogue by Tom Stoppard contributes significantly to the audience’s understanding of emotions and thematic undercurrents.

• Understanding Character Motives

• • The focus on Anna's emotional journey narrows the narrative scope, guiding viewers’ interpretation toward the destructive consequences of passionate love within a rigid society.

• Inferences About Bias

• Dialogue between characters, such as Anna and Vronsky or Anna and Karenin, reveals emotional complexity and societal pressures, significantly shaping audience perception.

Match each example from the 2012 adaptation of Anna Karenina with the correct narrative concept it illustrates:

• • Understanding Character Motives

• The filmmakers' choice to highlight Anna’s tragic love affair over other themes, such as Levin’s rural storyline or broader societal issues, directing viewer sympathy.

• Perspective and Information

• Anna's deep emotional turmoil portrayed through visual cues and external actions instead of explicit narration, requiring viewers’ active interpretation.

• • Narrator Reliability and Its Effects

• Jude Law’s portrayal of Karenin as emotionally nuanced, leading viewers to reconsider his motivations and potentially shifting their sympathies.

• • Impact of Bias on Reliability

• Levin's countryside life scenes contrasted sharply with the artificiality of city life, emphasizing the film’s thematic divide.

• Influence of Perspective

• The film’s theatrical setting constantly reminds viewers they are watching a constructed narrative, influencing how audiences interpret the story's truthfulness.

In the 2012 adaptation of Anna Karenina, how does the filmmakers’ portrayal of Anna’s relationship with Vronsky reveal a bias that affects the narrative’s reliability? Use one specific example from the film to support your analysis.