the literary genius of vladimir navokov be bring to the screen again and many in the cultured world will take notice . the director put u in check mate with the story of alexander and an absentminded chaplinesque study of chess addiction . nastasya be vacation in a marble columned resort where a chess championship be be host . she meet alexander by pick up a queen piece he drop thru his coat pocket . a magnetic attraction evolve whereby he propose the next day and the mother alarm telegram the husband . he arrive and question alexander we get these fade to the past and ala godfather ii and where we see young alexander and a child prodigy . he be take under a school teacher wing and exploit his genius for 10 yr make vast sum . think alexander reach his peak and abandon him but become legend . the old teacher return cause harm and try to give victory to an old rival of alexander . in a serious chess game where world chess champion victory be one way to immortality and the chess clock tick and match time end to conclude the next day . that day be nastasya wedding and the old teacher interferes and alexander be send on a nervous breakdown . nastasya and hold her stomach and look thru her love coat find his strategy for the match and follow the move . though the film unfortunately sway from it russian root and it low back cut dress be lovely and alexander play his role sublimely . the director underestimate her audience and we hardly ever get to play and the only hint of the luzhin defense be after trade queen and isolate the opponent king with your 3 paw and king and sacrifice the castle for mate . nastasya be a great match and but feel it conclusion deserve more intensity and but maybe the emotion be right on check for chess mean more to him than her . the luzhin defense elegantly give navokov honor and the complexity of his work in image be a world event not to be miss .