Chess Story

Schachnovelle

2021·110'

Philipp Stölzl

DramaThrillerHistoryWar

★ 6.9

Letterboxd TMDB #748787

He turned resistance into a game.

1938. While the Nazi troops march into Vienna, the lawyer Josef Bartok hastily tries to escape to the USA with his wife but is arrested by the Gestapo. Bartok remains steadfast and refuses to cooperate with the Gestapo that requires confidential information from him. Thrown into solitary confinement, Bartok is psychologically tormented for months and begins to weaken. However, when he steals an old book about chess it sets him on course to overcome the mental suffering inflicted upon him, until it becomes a dangerous obsession.

Cast

Oliver Masucci Dr. Josef Bartok

Albrecht Schuch Franz-Josef Böhm

Birgit Minichmayr Anna Bartok

Rolf Lassgård Owen McConnor

Andreas Lust Johann Prantl

Samuel Finzi Alfred Koller

Lukas Miko Gustav Sailer

Joel Basman Barkeeper Willem

Clemens Berndorff Dr. Swoboda

Johannes Zeiler Dr. Fink

Maresi Riegner Maid Klara

Luisa-Céline Gaffron Fridl