Anna Karenina

We went to see Anna Karenina tonight. It is a long time since I read the book, which has great depth and interlocking story lines. This was obviously condensed for the film and the decision to stage most of it in a theatre was certainly creative, but perhaps a little overworked by the end.

The essence of the plot is:
Levin loves Kitty & the idea of Russia, Kitty loves Vronsky, Vronsky loves Anna, Anna loves Alexi, Alexi loves his position in society (which includes Anna)
then
Anna realises she doesn't love Alexi, but loves Vronsky, Kitty realises she loves Levin, Alexi does not like this, people blame Anna and she becomes unhappy...

Meanwhile on the streets of Basingstoke one can read the same story of happy families retold for these modern times.