Topic: Chess

Direction Ingmar Bergman

Cast Max von Sydow · Gunnar Björnstrand · Nils Poppe · Bibi Andersson

Synopsis The Seventh Seal (1957) follows Antonius Block, a disillusioned knight portrayed by Max Von Sydow, who comes back from a decade-long crusade with his loyal squire, Jöns, played by Gunnar Björnstrand. Upon their return, they discover their homeland devastated by...

Direction Scott Frank · Allan Scott

Cast Anya Taylor-Joy · Isla Johnston · Annabeth Kelly · Bill Camp

Synopsis The Queen's Gambit (TV Miniseries) (2020) is a captivating 7-episode series set in 1950s Kentucky. It follows the journey of Beth Harmon, an eight-year-old orphan who initially seems unexceptional. However, her life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers the...

Direction Jan Pinkava

Synopsis Geri's Game (S) (1997) follows the story of an elderly man who engages in a strategic battle against his own mind. He meticulously sets up a chessboard and prepares to face his most formidable adversary: himself. The film delves into...

Direction Satyajit Ray

Cast Sanjeev Kumar · Saeed Jaffrey · Amjad Khan · Richard Attenborough

Synopsis The Chess Players (1977) unfolds in the backdrop of colonial India during 1856, where the British Resident of the East India Company, portrayed by Richard Attenborough, notices the monarch of Lucknow's disinterest in governance. Seeking to exploit this, he plots...

Direction Greg Kohs

Synopsis AlphaGo (2017) delves into the captivating world of the ancient Chinese board game Go, a game known for its straightforward rules yet vast array of potential outcomes, making it a formidable challenge for artificial intelligence. This compelling documentary follows the...

Direction Boaz Yakin

Cast Sean Nelson · Giancarlo Esposito · Samuel L. Jackson · Ron Brice

Synopsis Fresh (1994) follows the story of a young inner-city delivery boy whose job is fraught with peril due to the nature of his cargo. The 12-year-old protagonist, known as Fresh, is a drug courier who often finds himself running late...

Direction Katie Dellamaggiore

Cast Rochelle Ballantyne · John Galvin · Fred Rubino · Elizabeth Vicary

Synopsis Brooklyn Castle (2012) delves into the inspiring story of I.S. 318, an inner-city school where a significant majority, over 65%, of students come from households with incomes below the federal poverty threshold. Despite these challenges, the school boasts an extraordinary...

Direction Yan England

Cast Christian Cooke · Sarah Bolger · Trine Dyrholm · Aidan Quinn

Synopsis Rematch (2024) is a gripping 6-episode series that delves into the historic 1997 chess match between world champion Gary Kasparov and the supercomputer Deep Blue. The narrative transforms this iconic face-off into a psychological thriller, exploring the intense rivalry between...

Direction Liz Garbus

Cast Bobby Fischer · Anthony Saidy · Harry Benson

Synopsis Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011) delves into the tumultuous and eccentric life of the late chess prodigy Bobby Fischer. The narrative of Fischer's career is nothing short of captivating, encompassing his troubled upbringing, his meteoric rise to World Champion...

Direction Àlex Lora

Cast Saravuth Inn

Synopsis Odysseus' Gambit (S) (2011) delves into the life of Saravuth, a Cambodian individual who, much like the legendary Odysseus, made a significant sacrifice during the tumultuous 1950s and 1960s. This documentary explores how Saravuth, having been taken from his homeland...

Direction Steven Zaillian

Cast Max Pomeranc · Joe Mantegna · Joan Allen · Ben Kingsley

Synopsis Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) follows the journey of Josh (Max Pomeranc), an ordinary youngster who displays extraordinary talent in the game of chess. His supportive father (Joe Mantegna) nurtures this gift, aiming to ensure it doesn't overshadow his son's...

Direction Vikram Jayanti

Cast Garry Kasparov · Anatoli Karpov · Joel Benjamin · Michael Greengard

Synopsis Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine (2004) explores the historic chess match between Garry Kasparov, widely regarded as one of the most exceptional chess players in history, and IBM's supercomputer, Deep Blue, in 1997. The documentary chronicles Kasparov's defeat and...

Direction Atsuko Ishizuka · Takashi Ikehata · Akira Shimizu · Hideki Hosokawa

Synopsis No Game, No Life (TV Series) (2014) follows the extraordinary journey of Sora and Shiro, a sibling duo renowned for their exceptional gaming skills and their status as NEET hikikomori. Their prowess in the gaming world has earned them legendary...

Direction Gerd Oswald

Cast Curd Jürgens · Claire Bloom · Hansjörg Felmy · Mario Adorf

Synopsis Brainwashed (1960) unfolds in 1938 Austria, immediately following the Nazi takeover. Werner von Basil, a distinguished Viennese intellectual, is apprehended for attempting to smuggle art treasures out of the country. The Gestapo imprisons him in a hotel room, depriving him...

Direction James Napier Robertson

Cast Cliff Curtis · James Rolleston · Kirk Torrance · Miriama McDowell

Synopsis The Dark Horse (2014) is a deeply moving and uplifting drama centered around a man who embarks on a journey to discover the strength to guide others, despite his personal struggles. Through his interactions with the children in his community,...

Direction Mira Nair

Cast Lupita Nyong'o · David Oyelowo · Madina Nalwanga · Charity Rose Pimer

Synopsis Queen of Katwe (2016) follows the inspiring journey of a young girl from the slums of Uganda who discovers an extraordinary talent for chess. With the support of her family and a dedicated coach, she navigates the challenges of her...

Direction Benjamin Ree

Cast Magnus Carlsen · Garry Kasparov · Viswanathan Anand

Synopsis Magnus (2016) chronicles the extraordinary journey of a young chess prodigy who ascends to the pinnacle of the chess world. The documentary delves into the life of Magnus Carlsen, capturing his early years as a gifted player and his relentless...

Direction Vsevolod Pudovkin · Nikolai Shpikovsky

Cast Boris Barnet · José Raúl Capablanca · Zakhar Darevsky · Konstantin Eggert

Synopsis Chess Fever (S) (1925) follows the story of a man, Vladimir Fogel, whose intense passion for chess causes him to overlook his own wedding. However, the harmony of his marriage is eventually restored through the intervention of the renowned World...

Direction Alberto Lecchi

Cast Darío Grandinetti · Juan Echanove · Juan Diego · Diego Torres

Direction Caroline Bottaro

Cast Sandrine Bonnaire · Kevin Kline · Valerie Lagrange · Francis Renaud

Synopsis Queen to Play (2009) unfolds in a quaint Corsican village, where Hélène, a woman in her early forties, enjoys a simple yet fulfilling life. She is a devoted wife, a caring mother to her teenage daughter, and a dedicated chambermaid...