The Luzhin Defence is a 2001movie, directed by DutchdirectorMarleen Gorris. The screenplay was written by Peter Berry and based on the novelThe Defense (or The Defence) by Vladimir Nabokov. Nabokov in turn drew upon the events in the life of his friend Curt von Bardeleben who committed suicide in 1924. The movie stars John Turturro as the tormented Luzhin; Emily Watson plays the love interest, Natalia. Watson received best actress nominations at the British Independent Film Awards and the London Film Critics Circle Awards.
