Trailer
Assistive Technologies

Chess Story

Runtime
1hr 52mins
Directed by
Philipp Stölzl
Featuring
Oliver Masucci,
Albrecht Schuch,
Birgit Minichmayr,
Samuel Finzi
Film Language
in German with English subtitles
Body

Vienna, 1938: Austria is occupied by the Nazis. Just as lawyer Bartok is about to flee to America with his wife Anna, he is arrested and taken to the Hotel Metropol, the Gestapo headquarters. As an asset manager to the aristocracy he is to help the local Gestapo leader Böhm gain access to bank accounts.

Bartok refuses to cooperate and is thrown into solitary confinement where he 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.  Based on the last book by Stefan Zweig.

Co-presented by:

This Week

  • Bayard Rustin was the architect of 1963’s March on Washington. He challenged authority and never apologized for who he was, but was forgotten despite making history.

    Showtimes
  • The new film from director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Decision to Leave) and based on Donald E. Westlake's novel The Ax

    Showtimes
  • From award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers.

    Showtimes
  • A raw and unflinching portrait of survival, sexuality, and self-invention, marking the directorial debut of Kristen Stewart

    Showtimes
  • Winner, Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, 2025 Venice Film Festival

    Showtimes
  • From filmmaker Mona Fastvold (The Brutalist) comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, starring Academy Award nominee Amanda Seyfried. 

    Showtimes
  • From Academy Award winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, starring Jessie Buckley, and Paul Mescal. 

    Showtimes
  • The new film from Nicholas Hytner, starring Ralph Fiennes. 

    Showtimes
  • A new film from Bradley Cooper, starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern.

    Showtimes
  • The eagerly-awaited new film from Jim Jarmusch, winner of the Golden Lion Best Film prize at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.

    Showtimes
  • Brazil

    Have a laugh at the horror of things to come.

    Showtimes
  • In this course, we’ll sweep through the history of American journalists on film, as taught by Judi Freeman.

    Showtimes
  • The new film from Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World), starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, and Elle Fanning.

    Showtimes
  • What the Devil hath joined together let no man cut asunder.

    Showtimes
  • The new film from acclaimed German filmmaker Fatih Akin.

    Showtimes