"Anna Karenina," director Joe Wright's "ingenious" adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel, opens Thursday evening, Jan. 10, at the Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines.

This film is the third collaboration of Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley with acclaimed director Joe Wright ("Pride & Prejudice," "Atonement"). Academy Award-winner Tom Stoppard wrote the adaptation from Tolstoy's novel.

Anna (Knightley) is the pretty, bored wife of the important government minister Karenin (Jude Law). He is affectionate, but dry and distant. She lavishes her love on their 8-year-old son.

Wright and Stoppard also develop the roles of Tolstoy's secondary couples and their moral, spiritual and political struggles. These couples support the concept of this film as a study in the varieties of love. There is the idealistic young couple Levin and Kitty (Domhnall Gleason and Alicia Vikander). Levin represents Tolstoy's ideas in the novel.

The long-suffering Dolly (Kelly Macdonald) and her philandering husband, Oblonsky (Matthew Macfadyen), are another secondary couple. While meeting Dolly at a train station, Anna sees Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a dashing young military officer. For both of them, it is love at first sight. Later, Anna and Vronsky meet at a grand ball and begin an affair, which some consider the most famous infidelity in classical literature.

Anna's husband soon knows about the affair and requires that she be discreet. But Anna's passion is too great to conceal her love of Vronsky.

Director Wright has made "Anna Karenina" "in which there's no silver lining for anyone - a wild, gorgeous and flamboyant ride," according to Bob Mondello of National Public Radio.

"Anna Karenina" plays from Thursday, Jan. 10, through Monday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m. There will be matinee showings on Saturday, Jan. 12, and Sunday, Jan. 13, at 2:30 p.m. The film runs 129 minutes and is rated R for some sexuality and violence.

The historic, nonprofit Sunrise Theater is located in downtown Southern Pines, at 250 NW Broad St.

Tickets are $7 and are available only at the box office prior to shows. Refreshments are available, and include fresh popcorn with real butter, soft drinks, beer and wine.

Visit the website www.sunrisetheater.com or call (910) 692-8501 for more information about the theater and a complete calendar of events.