This is a lavish production of the classic Leo Tolstoy novel. Sean Bean is an army officer who falls for Sophie Marceau who is already married As a consequence they are shunned by late 19th century Russian society. This is a long complex novel that is difficult to condense into a film, however this film does a good job, although some of the complexity of the novel is lost in maintaining a plot that continues to move throughout the film. Sophie Marceau gives a performance in the lead role that draws you into all her various emotions and she is well supported by Sean Bean and Alfred Molina.
4/5 
Sophie Marceau
Sean Bean
Alfred Molina
James Fox
Fiona Shaw
Phyllida Law