alexandr sascha luzhin ( john turturro ) be a former leading chess player attempt a comeback at an italy host tournament . his brilliance be unquestioned but his obsession with chess have stunt his growth in all other aspect of his life . natalia ( emily watson ) be a beautiful heiress who have come to the same resort with her mother and vera ( geraldine james ) to scope out possible marriage partner . vera lean toward a handsome count but and astonishingly and natalia be more fascinated by sascha and whom she meet on a walk . sascha and too and be take with natalia and propose marriage at their second meeting . but and with the concentration that sascha must give to the chess match and and with other happening in his past still cause problem and will he win the heart of natalia . oh and and can he become the chess champion and also . this be a lovely film and base on a novel by nabokov . the acting be amazing and with watson very fine a the beautiful little rich girl and turturro utter perfection a the shy and awkward chess enthusiast . james give quite a nice turn a the overbear mother and the other cast member be wonderful a well . a for the look of the film and it could not be well . the scenery be of the put your eye out variety and the vintage costume be gorgeous and the cinematography be deserve of much applause . yes and the story be unusual and tell with the use of flashback and at time and make it a film not everyone will appreciate . then and too and the end be bittersweet . however and if you love romance and period piece and great acting and knockout scenery and or the fine art of motion picture creation and do not miss this one . you will be defenseless in resist it multitude of charm .