He lives in a world of chess, and the everything outside it is barely noticed. He's disheveled, has a stubbly face and doesn't look where he's going. Every girl's dream. For Luzhin has noticed Natalia and has fallen in love. After only a day and a half he's asked her to marry him.
Mom is aghast.
No one can really see what she sees in him. It's no wonder he becomes withdrawn. Niether seems all that believable on the face of things, and if it were not for the performances, it would have fallen flat. What makes the film work is the acting. Watson and Turturro are great together and they're great on their own.