Special Feature and Giveaway: Anna Karenina Film Prize Pack

Sometimes you just can’t ask why about love…..love is a choice but it’s a choice that doesn’t require  any qualifications, it simply is.

Fans of the novel Anna Karenina know that there are as many kinds of loves as there are hearts. That perhaps is why the novel is so appealing….it is a story about love and love effects us all.

What kind of loves have you known in your life? Forbidden love? Dutiful love? Romantic love? Enduring love? Passionate love? Maternal love? Scandalous love?

In the novel Anna Karenina, we find all kinds of love and on November 30^th (in theaters everywhere) we will see director Joe Wright’s vision of love on the big screen.

I for one have been waiting for the release of this film for months. I have been watching all the Facebook promotions and longing for the release date. The film opened to limited cities on November 16, but unfortunately us Oregonians have to wait until November 30^th when the film is released to all cities.

In celebration of the Anna Karenina release, I am thrilled to announce that I have a fantastic giveaway opportunity! A huge thank you to Focus Features for making it possible for me to bring you this giveaway!

I am giving away 2 Anna Karenina Prize Packs!

Two (2) lucky winners will receive:

• Copy of the book (movie tie-in edition) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
• Official Soundtrack
• Votivo Candle with Bookmark

Prizing values: $54 each

Prizing provided by Focus Features

Giveaway runs from 11/26/12 to 12/3/12.

Winners will be announced 12/4/12 and notified by email.

Winners have 5 days to claim their prize, if not a new winner will be selected. 

Giveaway (how to enter)

• On this blog you must leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway.  Your comment MUST include your email so I can contact you….if you do not enter an email in the comments your entry will be void. 
• Make sure you note if you have done the following for more chances to win: Tweet about the giveaway (+1), share on Facebook (+1), like The Lit Bitch on Facebook (+1), follow The Lit Bitch on Twitter (+1), subscribe to The Lit Bitch’s blog (+1).

In anticipation of the film I read the novel for the first time this year. If you haven’t already done so, you should read the book.

I know it’s long and a little intimidating but it truly is one of the best books I’ve read and the richness of the prose and the depth of the love story is unforgettable.

I was able to find a study guide for the book that corresponds to the film which I thought was brilliant so if you have already read the book and are just looking for something to refreshen your memory and something to think about while you watch the film, check it out!

I think one of the things that appeals most about the book is it’s theme, love. Love is timeless and classic…..love and romance never go out of style. Love is the very soul of the human condition. We all have known some kind of love…and some very different, conflicting forms of love.

The love that Anna and Count Vronsky experience is both scandalous and forbidden, and comparatively the love that Anna has for her husband is dutiful….but still it is love none the less, just different. This film is all about how we see love and interpret it.

What better venue than the use of a stage to showcase and interpret love.

The film is being directed by Joe Wright, as I noted earlier and as you might have guessed, one of the tools that makes Wright’s vision so unique that he is using the stage to tell the story….”the world is a stage” or “the world is watching” is such a innovative use of mise-en-scene and it will surely bring many layers of romance to the film.

Wright has worked with Keira Knightley on other period film projects such as Pride & Prejudice and Atonement. For me, when it comes to period pieces, there is no one better than the lovely Keira Knightley.

She does such a fantastic job in those roles. I am thrilled that she was cast as Anna—she has the dark, curly hair and air of mysteriousness that I feel when I read Anna’s character. I cannot WAIT to see her performance.

Visually this film promises to deliver. If you have been watching any of the promotions about the film, you will quickly notice the glamorous, breathtaking costumes.

Wright is famous for his rich, bold, theatrical style…. if you are looking for high visual drama and stimulation this film is a must for you!

For those of you who don’t know, the film has been an inspiration for Banana Republic this season…..it’s been one of the most highly anticipated collections of the season. Not to mention, I have seen a lot of Anna inspired jewelry pieces and clothing in and around other stores as well. I for one have fallen in love the hair styles of the film. I’ve taken to wearing my hair (I have dark brown curly hair as well) just like Anna in the film. 

So now here’s my question to my readers…. which kind of love are you most looking forward to seeing in this film? For me….hands down forbidden and scandalous love….I think in many ways those are the most exciting kinds of love. Though dutiful love and respectful love might be more solid….passion can be so exciting.

I can’t wait to see the chemistry between Vronsky and Anna on the big screen. The other kind of love I am curious to see is the dutiful love between Alexi and Anna. Jude Law is such a versatile actor and I think he will play the dutiful husband well.

Every Wednesday on the Anna Karenina page, they post a “There are as many loves as there are hearts” teaser and ask the audience to share their stories. I included a couple of my favs in this post.

This is going to be a great year for literary fans…..so many great literary based films are coming out this year (Les Miserables and The Great Gatsby) but Anna Karenina is still holding top spot in the anticipation column for me.

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out the official trailer.

Also, if you are one of the lucky ones who got to view the film on November 16^th please share your thoughts and opinions in the comments as well.
Here is more info about the film, be sure to like Anna Karenina on Facebook for the latest news and information on the film. You can also read more in depth articles about the film and actors on Focus Features web site.

ABOUT THE FILM

Release Date:                          November 16, 2012

Nationwide Release:         November 30, 2012

Genre:                                      Drama

Studio:                                     Focus Features

Starring:                                 Keira Knightley, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jude Law, Matthew Macfadyen, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Kelly Macdonald, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Williams, and Emily Watson

Directed By:                           Joe Wright (“Pride & Prejudice”, “Atonement”)

Written By:                            Tom Stoppard (“Shakespeare in Love”)

Anna Karenina is acclaimed director Joe Wright’s bold, theatrical new vision of the epic story of love, stirringly adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s great novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love). The film marks the third collaboration of the director with Academy Award-nominated actress Keira Knightley and Academy Award-nominated producers Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Paul Webster, following their award-winning box office successes Pride & Prejudice and Atonement.

Link Up!

Visit the official site

Like Anna Karenina on Facebook

Repin Anna Karenina fashion inspirations, epic Tolstoy quotes and more onPinterest

Check out the Anna Karenina study guide!