Anna Karenina, Tolstoy’s masterpiece about the many intertwined lives and dramatic turns of its characters, has always been a captivating challenge for filmmakers. This film is a stunning cinematic adaptation of the famous love story between Anna, a Russian aristocrat, married and mother to a child, and the dashing cavalry officer Alexei Vronsky.

What sets this version apart — beyond being the newest film adaptation of the novel — is the screenplay by Tom Stoppard. Thanks largely to him, the dialogue feels both natural and contemporary. Of course, credit is also due to director Joe Wright and the cast, led by Keira Knightley as Anna Karenina. Another highlight is the breathtaking design, especially the costumes, which elegantly evoke the Russia of a bygone era.

This year’s festival is also screening a film about Stoppard: Tom Stoppard: A Charmed Life