Ukraine / Oct 09, 2021 / New German Cinema Festival
Overall average
5.0/10
Trailer
Videos
Plot
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.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Joel Basman | Barkeeper Willem |
| Clemens Berndorff | Dr. Swoboda |
| Johannes Zeiler | Dr. Fink |
| Maresi Riegner | Maid Klara |
| Luisa-Céline Gaffron | Fridl |
| Moritz von Treuenfels | Policeman Erich |
| Carl Achleitner | Chess Player |
| Eric Bouwer | Dr. Wouters |
| Rafael Stachowiak | Ship Waiter Harry |
| Isa Hochgerner | Cook |
| Anton Rattinger | Driver Max |
| Markus Schleinzer | Dr. Auer |
| Manfred Möck | Chess Player |
| Paul Schweinester | Officer in Hotel Library |
| Alexander Khuon | Seward Claas |
| Dieter Bernhardt | Driver |
| Elias Gabele | Passport Controller at the Port |
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| Aron Eichhorn | Protester |
| Gerhard Flödl | Waiter at Palais Auersperg |
| Heiko Köchel | Gestapo Man |
| Kari Rakkola | Gestapo Man |
| Christian Dungl | Gestapo Man |
| Belush Korenyi | Pianist at Hotel Metropole |
| Philipp M. Krenn | Officer at Hotel Reception |
| Christoph Kostomiris | Gestapo Officer |
Genres
HistoryDramaWarThriller
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | Schachnovelle |
| Original language | Deutsch (DE) |
| Spoken languages | Deutsch |
| Production countries | Austria, Germany |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Walker & Worm Film, Dor Film, BR, ORF, StudioCanal, Studio Babelsberg, ARD, ARD Degeto |
| Official site | dor-film.com |
| Release date | 23 settembre 2021 |
| Production | Tobias Walker, Philipp Worm, Danny Krausz, Kalle Friz, Isabel Hund |
| Writer | Eldar Grigorian, Stefan Zweig |
| Casting | Simone Bär |
| Editing | Sven Budelmann |
| Cinematography | Thomas W. Kiennast |
| Assistant directors | Philipp Stölzl |
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| Camera operators | Thomas W. Kiennast |
| Additional photography | Thomas W. Kiennast |
| Production design | Matthias Müsse |
| Art direction | Matthias Müsse |
| Set decoration | Matthias Müsse |
| Visual effects | Michael Wortmann |
| Music | Ingo Ludwig Frenzel, Gunnar Voigt, Jan Petzold, Martin Steyer |
| Sound | Gunnar Voigt, Ingo Ludwig Frenzel, Jan Petzold, Martin Steyer |
| Costume design | Tanja Hausner, Daniela Skala |
| Makeup | Daniela Skala, Tanja Hausner |
| Hairstyling | Daniela Skala, Tanja Hausner |
Release dates
Premiere
Limited release
United States / Jan 13, 2023
Theatrical release
Germany / Sep 23, 2021 / 12
Sweden / Sep 23, 2021 / 15
Austria / Sep 24, 2021
Denmark / Oct 14, 2021 / 11
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Russia / Oct 14, 2021
Ukraine / Dec 02, 2021 / 16+
Spain / Feb 11, 2022 / Alfa Pictures
Taiwan / Mar 10, 2023
Digital
France / Jun 16, 2022 / 12 / MyCanal
Physical media
Germany / Mar 10, 2022 / 12 / DVD & BD
TV
Austria / Jul 03, 2023 / ORF 1
Germany / Jul 03, 2023 / 12 / Das Erste
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