The Life and Death Of Anna K.

What about this story keeps us tuned, after so many years? Did you know that there are at least 8 versions of the story on film? OK, so some are in Russian and are not counted in North America, but still.
I saw the new one recently. Of course I did. How can I resist time travel that takes me to the best dressed list of Russian society more than 100 years ago? And they were certainly dressed to the nines. The jewellery was quite good too. And the decor. Lovely.
But that's not why we are there. We are there to witness the ultimate woman destroy herself for love. She does it with passion and dedication most of us lack. Who among us would throw ourselves under a steaming train because of raging jealousy? Our destructive compulsions drive most love stricken hearts to open the fridge door and drown their sorrows in something edible. Is it possible people are not compelled to follow suit because the trains are so unromantic now, electric beasts they are today?
Or is it because women ( in the developed world) have more options now and don't have to die once they follow their hearts?
We watch because most of us don't let ourselves go that distance. We watch the kind of love we all wish we could experience once in our life, versus the one most of us have. The rational, composed, regimented life contrasted with the irrational, inevitable passionate choice of Mrs. K. We know she suffered, but we know she would do it all again. And we love her for it.