Chess Story 2021
Distributed by Film Movement
Directed by Philipp Stölzl
Streaming, 112 mins
College - General Adult
History; Literature; Psychology
Date Entered: 07/25/2023
Reviewed by Julie M. Feighery, Head of Research and Outreach Services, Indiana University South BendAn Austrian lawyer is suddenly separated from his wife and arrested by the Nazis. Asked to give up the account numbers for the funds he manages, he refuses, and is placed into solitary confinement for months. Eventually, he manages to steal a book about chess, and through the memorization of various chess moves, finds he can withstand the solitude. The film deftly manages two timelines, the imprisonment by the Nazis, and his later journey on a ship to America. The film is beautifully shot and acted, then pulls off the trick of merging the two timelines, so that one is never sure if the second one is real or imagined. Based on the story “The Royal Game” written during World War II shortly before its author, Stefan Zweig, committed suicide, it gives a feeling of never-ending darkness and despair. An elegant glimpse into the loss of one’s mind.
Awards: Best Actor, Bavarian Film Awards; Best Production, Bavarian Film Awards; Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature, Prescott Film Festival; Director’s Choice for Best Screenplay, Prescott Film Festival
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