Anna Karenina

She is pretentious, idealistic, and her ultimate demise.

2013 Miniseries

Anna showing up to the ball in a black dress and black gloves alludes to her dark feminity, in contrast to Kitty’s all-white, pure ensemble. Count Alexei is clearly seduced by the womanhood of Anna, and ignores Kitty for the rest of the dances, including the very significant Viennese waltz. Like Sonya and Nikolai from War and Peace, Tolstoy once again shows that waiting around for a man does not work. Kitty should have accepted dances from other men, since she was not officially tied yet to Count Vronsky.

Everything around them stopped as they danced and everyone watched as their scandal brewed. Like a black swan, she overtook the ballad.

2013 Keira Knightley Film

I am so happy I purchased this version after watching the miniseries because the cinematography is so artistic and captivating, and the characters have a sense of humor about them that lessens the severity of the tribulations they endure, making it so much easier to watch. Even Count Vronsky is a comical looking dweeb with blonde hair and a patchy mustache instead of a tall dark and handsome soldier. I don’t think this production is a diss to Tolstoy, but rather a lighthearted approach to a dark story that might turn some people off.

Keira Knightley makes the perfect Anna Karenina from her talent in showcasing raw, unfettered emotions.

The main difference I noticed in the film from the miniseries is that Count Vronsky danced with Kitty after he danced with Anna.