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The Luzhin Defence poster

The Luzhin Defence

2000·Movie·109 min·6.2(45)

Two worlds collide when an eccentric genius falls in love with a strong-willed society beauty.

Based upon the novel by Vladimir Nabokov, a chess grandmaster travels to Italy in the 1920s to play in a tournament and falls in love.

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Where to watch The Luzhin Defence in United States

Click a service to open The Luzhin Defence there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.

Where is The Luzhin Defence streaming around the world?

CountryStreaming onRent / Buy
United StatesThe Roku ChannelAmazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
CanadaApple TV Store, Amazon Video
GermanyApple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
SpainAmazon Prime Video, Filmin, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

About The Luzhin Defence

The Luzhin Defence is a 2000 English-language romance and drama film directed by Marleen Gorris. The cast is led by John Turturro, Emily Watson, Geraldine James. It has a runtime of 1h 49m. In United States, it is currently streaming on The Roku Channel.

The Luzhin Defence was produced by France 2 Cinéma, ICE3, and Lantia Cinema & Audiovisivi and made in France and United Kingdom. It was released on August 21, 2000.

Director
Marleen Gorris
Writers
Peter Berry
Release date
August 21, 2000
Original language
English
Status
Released
Country
France, United Kingdom
Budget
$2 million
Production
France 2 Cinéma, ICE3, Lantia Cinema & Audiovisivi
#chess#based on novel or book#italy#chess tournament#woman director#1920s

The Luzhin Defence cast & crew

The Luzhin Defence was directed by Marleen Gorris and written by Peter Berry.

The cast features John Turturro as Aleksandr Ivanovich 'Sascha' Luzhin, Emily Watson as Natalia Katkov, Geraldine James as Vera, Natalia's Mother, Stuart Wilson as Valentionov, Fabio Sartor as Turati, and Peter Blythe as Ilya.

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Alexandre Desplat, cinematography is by Bernard Lutic, and it was produced by Jody Allen and Péter Barbalics.

Is The Luzhin Defence worth watching?

At 1h 49m, it's a standard feature-length watch.

If you enjoy romance and drama, The Luzhin Defence is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch The Luzhin Defence

In United States, you can stream The Luzhin Defence on The Roku Channel, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.

Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.

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Cast of The Luzhin Defence

John Turturro

John Turturro

Aleksandr Ivanovich 'Sascha' Luzhin

Emily Watson

Emily Watson

Natalia Katkov

Geraldine James

Geraldine James

Vera, Natalia's Mother

Stuart Wilson

Stuart Wilson

Valentionov

Fabio Sartor

Fabio Sartor

Turati

Peter Blythe

Peter Blythe

Ilya

Orla Brady

Orla Brady

Anna

Mark Tandy

Mark Tandy

Luzhin's Father

Kelly Hunter

Kelly Hunter

Luzhin's Mother

Antonio Carli

Antonio Carli

Fascist

The Luzhin Defence — FAQs

Where can I watch The Luzhin Defence in United States?

The Luzhin Defence is streaming on The Roku Channel in United States.

Is The Luzhin Defence on The Roku Channel?

Yes — The Luzhin Defence is currently available on The Roku Channel in United States.

What language is The Luzhin Defence in?

The Luzhin Defence is originally in English, with audio tracks including Italian, English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

How long is The Luzhin Defence?

The Luzhin Defence runs 1 hours 49 minutes (109 minutes).

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