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ERA
Did you know
Released 5 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Chess Story
"He turned resistance into a game."
2021 1h 50m DE
👍
6.8
SOLID
★6.8TMDB · 167
HistoryDramaWarThriller
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
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.
“He turned resistance into a game.”
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
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Philipp Stölzl
- Writers
- Eldar Grigorian
- Languages
- German
- Countries
- Austria, Germany
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
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WORLD
Did you know
International production across 2 countries: Austria, Germany.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
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DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Philipp Stölzl, shot by Thomas W. Kiennast. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
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DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Ingo Ludwig Frenzel. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Sven Budelmann shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
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CAST
Did you know
Oliver Masucci and Albrecht Schuch and Birgit Minichmayr carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "He turned resistance into a game.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
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WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt12058584 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Philipp Stölzl directs. Thomas W. Kiennast behind the camera. Ingo Ludwig Frenzel scores. Sven Budelmann cuts. Produced in Austria, Germany. Dialogue in German.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Released 5 years ago.
- 2International production across 2 countries: Austria, Germany.
- 3Directed by Philipp Stölzl, shot by Thomas W. Kiennast. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Ingo Ludwig Frenzel. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Sven Budelmann shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Oliver Masucci and Albrecht Schuch and Birgit Minichmayr carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "He turned resistance into a game.".
- 8IMDB entry: tt12058584 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Thomas W. Kiennast
- Original score
- Ingo Ludwig Frenzel
- Editing
- Sven Budelmann
- Production design
- Matthias Müsse
- Costume design
- Tanja Hausner
- Makeup / hair
- Daniela Skala
- VFX supervisor
- Michael Wortmann
- Sound
- Jan Petzold
- Runtime
- 110 min · 1h 50m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- DE
Also by
Philipp Stölzl
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Walker & Worm Film
DE
Dor Film
AT
BR
DE
ORF
AT
StudioCanal
DE
Studio Babelsberg
DE
ARD
DE
ARD Degeto
DE
Key crew
- Co-ProducerKalle Friz
- Co-ProducerDanny Krausz
- ProducerPhilipp Worm
- Co-ProducerIsabel Hund
- ProducerTobias Walker
- EditorSven Budelmann
- SoundGunnar Voigt
- NovelStefan Zweig
- CastingSimone Bär
- Sound DesignerJan Petzold
- Sound MixerMartin Steyer
- Production DesignMatthias Müsse
- Costume DesignTanja Hausner
- Visual Effects SupervisorMichael Wortmann
- Makeup DesignerDaniela Skala
- Hair DesignerDaniela Skala
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- chess
- world war ii
- playing chess
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical (limited)2023-01-13
Also known as
International titles
- The Royal GameGB
- 心陷棋局HK
- داستان شطرنجIR
