What to watch on New Year’s holidays: 10 films about chess

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“Daring”, 1994

This is a thriller, crime and drama in one bottle. The plot is based on a boy who is barely 12 years old, and he has already known all the hardships of this world and is selling drugs in order to survive. His world is a poor, dysfunctional area of ​​New York, where riots are happening and racial conflicts constantly arise. The boy seeks to break out of the vicious circle, improve his lifeb. ATrecalls that his father, a former speed chess champion, taught him this game. So he begins his new journey and helps his sister’s boyfriend cope with difficult problems, using the tactics and strategy of chess battles. A spectacular picture that will not leave indifferent even those who are not at all interested in chess.

“Queen from Katwe”, 2016

The picture is based on real history and raises acute public questions related to social inequality and critical problems of the third world countries. The plot is based on the story of a girl from a poor village in Uganda, whose main goal is to break out of poverty herself and get her family out of there. Her life lies in trading corn and caring for her brother, but her soul demands more. Everything changes when Fiona meets a missionary teaching children how to play chess. She gradually becomes one of the best and acquires a quite tangible goal – to come to the World Chess Olympiad. It is very interesting to observe how strength of mind, determination, perseverance, faith in oneself and one’s strength help to achieve what one wants.

“Choice of game”, 1993

Another biographical drama that tells about the childhood of Joshua Waitzkin. An accidental chess win from his father changed the life of the on-screen Josh, the parents decided to make a famous chess player out of the boy. But Joshua wants to play baseball and gets bored with endless games. The picture touches upon the age-old questions of the right of children’s self-determination, the problems of the relationship between fathers and children.

“Sacrificing a Pawn”, 2014

A drama based on the chess game of Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, which becomes a symbolic confrontation between East and West, the USA and the USSR. The stress of what is happening is added by the personal experiences of the master. The film has an interesting title, which allegorically shows that for large and strong countries people are just pawns in a political tricky game.

“King’s life”, 2013

The film is based on real events, it is quite possible to take it for family viewing. The protagonist is an ex-felon named Eugene Brown, who goes to work as a school janitor and gets a chance to temporarily become a substitute teacher in high school. Having earned authority, he teaches children chess and the truth of life. With the help of a chess game in the film, the main idea is conveyed that before taking a step, you need to think carefully about everything, having calculated the possible result. Otherwise, “checkmate”, any mistake can have complex consequences, both on the chessboard and in life.

“Protection of Luzhin”, 2000

The film is based on the famous novel of the same name by Vladimir Nabokov. The story is based on the love of Luzhin, who is running away from reality in chess, for Natalia Katkova, whom he saw on the Italian lakes during the match. The film differs from the book in accents. Where the viewer’s attention is more concentrated not on the thoughts of a genius that drive him crazy, although there is this, but on a sad love story with a tragic ending.

“Chess player”, 2019

The plot of the film revolves around a boy, Fahim, who is very successful at chess. He lives with his father in Bangladesh and is rather poor. Subsequently, the family leaves for France, where Fahim is apprenticed to a stern chess coach. It was a fateful meeting that played a huge role in the fate of the boy: the teacher Silvan became attached to his soul and helped in many ways. A good, pleasant film based on a real life story, excellent fit to watch with the whole family. There are no empty dialogues here, and the lines of relationships are written with warmth, they touch the soul.

“Knights of the South Bronx, 2005

In the center of the drama is a middle-aged man who is going through a difficult period. On all fronts of complexity. In order not to drown in disappointments and heavy thoughts, he goes to work as a teacher at a school, where he is given a class made up of difficult children. Subsequently, one of the students learns that Richard is an excellent chess player and asks to teach him. Gradually, other classmates also come along. As a result, a good team is formed, which strives to become champions. A life-affirming film that shows that in any business there are many alternative ways, and with desire, perseverance and intelligence, you can win any game, not just chess.

“World Champion”, 2021

Sports drama about the infamous match between two Soviet chess players – the young champion Anatoly Karpov and the emigrant, dissident Viktor Korchnoi. A fascinating journey into the past to watch the legendary chess game that actually lasted several months. In the picture, there was a place for the inner experiences of the characters, and spectacles, and even a story about the work of parapsychologists. The film keeps you in suspense, because the opponents are equal, and just one small mistake can cost too much, because not just a victory or loss in chess is at stake – political forces intervened in the game.

“Queen’s move”, 2020

A sensational mini-series that can be watched and re-watched, capturing new meanings and interpreting the ending in different ways. If suddenly you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to write it down in your New Year’s list. A dramatic story about a girl chess player from a foster family, who quickly goes to big serious games and world success. The chess line in the series is complemented by the personal experiences of the heroine associated with growing up, relationships with men and suddenly fallen fame. An additional charm of “The Queen’s Move” is given by the spirit of old America – in the scenery, atmosphere, costumes – beautifully played up by artists and stylists.