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Chess Story

2021Movie1 h 50 min

78
GreatGoodWatch score

A tense, moving history movie about history and the mind.

Good for friends night · teens · drop-in friendly

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

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.

Feels like

  • Psychological Drama
  • Historical Thriller
  • Chess Obsession
  • Nazi Occupation
  • Solitary Confinement
  • Survival
  • Mental Resilience
  • European Cinema
  • World War II

Cast

Crew

Directed by
Philipp Stölzl

Everyone

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Facts

September 23, 2021 · 1 h 50 min · Violence, Disturbing Imagery

Released
September 23, 2021
Runtime
1 h 50 min
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
History, Drama, War, Thriller
Original language
German
Made in
Austria, Germany
Available in
21 countries

Q&A

3 questions, like "Where can I stream Chess Story?"

Questions about Chess Story

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Chess Story?

In the United States, Chess Story streams on Film Movement+, and it is free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 10 other countries.

Is Chess Story worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78 (IMDb 6.8, Letterboxd 3.5 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 88%, and Metacritic 80). Critics rate it higher (84 out of 100) than audiences (73).

Is Chess Story in English?

German

No, it was made in German.