On the board he fought the Cold War. In his mind he fought his madness.|Sep. 16, 2015|United States|115 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Drama;Thriller
Description: In 1972, Bobby Fischer experiences a paranoid breakdown in his hotel room, convinced he is being spied on by the Soviet KGB. Rewind to 1951 Brooklyn, where Fischer’s mother, a Soviet Jewish immigrant, tells young Bobby that the FBI is watching her due to her support for Marxist revolution in the U.S. She instructs him on how to respond if questioned by the FBI.
Bobby becomes deeply engrossed in chess, quickly rising as a prodigy. Despite concerns about his growing obsession, his mother takes him to an adult chess club, where his talent catches the attention of a chess master. Bobby soon enters professional tournaments and becomes the youngest grandmaster in history.
However, his intense focus leads to frequent outbursts. During a tournament in Varna, Bulgaria, Bobby discovers that Soviet grandmasters are conspiring to draw games, making it nearly impossible for non-Soviets to win. Frustrated, he quits the tournament and abandons chess altogether.
Back in the U.S., lawyer Paul Marshall steps in to help Bobby reform tournament rules, offering his services pro bono. Bobby re-enters the chess world, choosing former World Junior Chess Champion Father William Lombardy as his second. Lombardy struggles to manage Bobby’s erratic behavior and excessive demands.
As Bobby’s requests are met, he defeats grandmasters worldwide, nearing the world championship. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union’s chess dominance is used as propaganda to claim the superiority of communism over democracy. U.S. President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger closely follow Bobby’s journey, rooting for his success.
Cast director: Edward Zwick
Cast actor: Tobey Maguire, Peter Sarsgaard, Liev Schreiber, Michael Stuhlbarg, Lily Rabe, Sophie Nélisse, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Conrad Pla, Aiden Lovekamp, Evelyne Brochu
Original name: Pawn Sacrifice