Chess Story

Vienna, 1938: Austria is occupied by the Nazis. Dr. Josef Bartok (Oliver Masucci) is preparing to flee to America with his wife Anna when he is arrested by the Gestapo. As a former notary to the deposed Austrian aristocracy, he is told to help the local Gestapo leader gain access to their private bank accounts in order to fund the Nazi regime. Refusing to cooperate, Bartok is locked in solitary confinement. Just as his mind is beginning to crack, Bartok happens upon a book of famous chess games. To withstand the torture of isolation, Bartok disappears into the world of chess, maintaining his sanity only by memorizing every move. As the action flashes forward to a transatlantic crossing on which he is a passenger, it seems as though Bartok has finally found freedom. But recounting his story to his fellow travelers, it's clear that his encounters with both the Gestapo and with the royal game itself have not stopped haunting him. Adapted with opulent attention to period detail by filmmaker and opera director Philipp Stölzl, CHESS STORY brings Stefan Zweig's stirring final novella to life.

Named on of the Best Narrative Films of 2023 by Video Librarian
"The film is beautifully shot from beginning to end, and the opening sequence is experimental and haunting. Some scenes and shots seem almost Hitchcockian in composition which will captivate thriller fans throughout the film. I didn’t want to look away from Chess Story once: Its story, mystery, and subtle visual effects make this German-language psychological thriller a must-see for any fans of the genre or lovers of mystery. Highly Recommended. Editor’s Choice." - Video Librarian

"An 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. Highly Recommended." - EMRO