Uncomplicated film directed by Carolyn Bottaro (her full-length debut) "Chess Player", 2009. Hotel servant Helen somehow accidentally sees a couple of tenants - a man and a woman - playing chess, and this randomly peeped scene forever settles in her heart - she is fascinated either by the game, or by their clearly tender and close relationships, especially since her mind is generally free - the husband-painter is only busy with his work on painting ships, he does not even have attention on her, not even love, the daughter also lives her life - she needs money for a trip to England, and they have little money, their daughter is shy and their social status. And here's her husband's birthday, and she gives him electronic chess, and she actually buys it for herself. First, she tries to master the game on her own, then tries to attract her husband, and finally, she finds an American doctor in the house, from whom she cleans the chessboard and dares to ask him to teach her how to play. Needless to say, she turns out to be a real nugget and goes to conquer first the modest chess peaks, and then - know... The story is simple and predictable, but played well, since Sandrine Bonner and Kevin Cline took up the case.
It’s hard for me to express my complete enthusiasm for this film. I must say that I really liked this picture. After a short trial, this film became a real debut of Caroline Bottaro. This woman director made a wonderful movie, full of something alive, warm, real. Her film was warmly received, and Bottaro immediately received recognition from the audience.
Meet Helen. She's just a hotel maid. Her life is unremarkable and monotonous. The heroine is married, she has a daughter. All his life, Helen and her husband work tirelessly to feed themselves. Everything changes when a woman discovers the world of chess. This passion will attract her so much that life will change other colors.
I didn’t want the movie to end, I liked it so much. The director revealed this story perfectly. She felt it all to the end and looked into the souls of the main characters. This film is about inspiration, about play, passion, about the fact that life is so unpredictable that everything can change in an instant, you can open a whole, huge world of something new for yourself with just one game.
The relationships of the main characters were shown so warmly and soulfully. Both actors played their roles. Sandrine Bonaire is a very talented actress. She played her character with her soul and was the heart of the film. Watching Boner play is always a pleasure, and in this film she was without any praise at the height, and this role of Helen is one of my favorites in her performance.
Calvin Cline is a respected, American actor, and it was unexpected but nice to see him in a French film. The duo Sandrine was excellent. The actors played so chicly that over time this movie can be watched with pleasure. When a story is interesting, and it was brilliantly revealed by both the director and the actors, it is a success, something that cinema strives to show the truth, something real, and show it with taste. This movie is exactly like that.
The story of the film is not only about the world of chess, it touches on many aspects. Here family values, the eternal theme of parents and children, the theme of marriage, a new, unexpected acquaintance, how to change your life, find something new and interesting, how to change yourself for the better. The movie is very deep and much smarter than it seems at first glance.
"Chess Player" is a 2009 European drama. This is a heartwarming movie, and it’s for those who love and appreciate “good” movies. I personally enjoyed what I saw and I say yes to this movie. Thank you.
“At risk, you can lose, but without risk, you always lose.”
8 out of 10
Some movies do wonders. When I was 10 years old, I learned to play chess, played with my father, went to a chess club, sometimes played chess Olympiads, but without much achievement. A number of years have passed and I have almost forgotten what the pieces and the chessboard look like, although I recently read Arturo Perez-Riverte’s novel The Flemish Board. But only after watching the movie “Chess Player” I have revived that forgotten childhood feeling for this clever and exciting game. And if we take into account the words of the German philosopher Hegel that a person is a pawn on the chessboard of history, then it becomes clear why this game is so popular, maybe not like baseball in the United States or hockey in Canada, but of course it has fans and amateurs and professionals.
An important role in the fact that I wanted to see this picture was played by the fact that the main role in it was played by actress Sandrine Bonner, from whom she breathes a special warmth and purity, not even an actor, but a human one. By the way, I remember her qualities in the films Forever and East-West. Let’s not forget her film teacher, played by Kevin Klein. It seems that the role is small and does not require special moral costs, but it is pleasant to watch. About such a teacher not only in chess, but also in life one can only dream. Adding all these points, I can say with confidence that the movie turned out to be sincere, kind, easy and at the same time with its meaning. Everyone will bear the necessary and useful things for himself and maybe someone not only from the world of boys and men will want to learn to play chess after watching this picture, and someone will continue their training, but also girls can quite master this game. And why not?
Lately I’ve been hooked on French cinema. They are distinguished by their natural ease, the ability to talk about important things in simple, unobtrusive language. The film is a chess player among them.
Before us opens the leisurely life of an ordinary woman, consisting of the work of a housekeeper and the usual family life. We see a simple life similar to that of many of us. And nothing in this life foreshadowed change.
And then one day the heroine held a close look at a beautiful couple playing a mysterious game. Oh, that look, how deeply he penetrated and felt the feelings and desires of the players. Apparently, they were desirable and understandable to our heroine that she allowed them to grow in her soul. Under the influence of these feelings, Helen buys chess and begins to learn to play it. Helen began to devote all her time to chess, it became like an obsession. In order to learn to play, Helen was not afraid to seek help from a local snob doctor, which caused him great surprise. A housekeeper who wants to learn to play chess. Fortunately, the doctor turned out to be not only a snob, but also a rather intelligent person who respects someone else's talent.
I wondered if Ellen was asking herself why she needed all this. She asked, and at one point it seemed to her that chess did not improve her life, but destroyed her. But the desire to change, his life won. Helen took up chess again, the only opportunity to transform her life. As a result, she enters the chess tournament, overcoming the natural fear of the unknown and possible disapproval in the event of a loss.
Thus, this picture showed us a path that is available to everyone if they want to improve their lives. To do this, you need to look around and see the possible means, then believe in yourself and go forward.
In the end, we got a sophisticated French film. I recommend everyone to watch!
Taking risks you can lose without risking losing always!
My good friend advised me to watch the picture, saying that the film became a landmark for her. I couldn’t understand the meaning of that phrase until I saw the movie. From halfway through the film, everything fell into place. I understand her now. It was unimaginable. After watching, I was impressed for a long time, so deeply the picture fell into my soul. For a long time I did not want to look at anything else, so as not to litter the mind, the second-rate consumer goods that fell on us in thousands. Which we watch because of the fashionable "actors", budgets and special effects. For a long time, I was thinking about my own life, my unfulfilled dreams, the reassessment of values and priorities, whether we are engaged in or realized at all. And for a long time, amid all the dirt around us, I wanted to feel the sharpness of mind and purity of soul, the effect usually appears after playing chess. For me, the main thing was always that the film carried some idea that gave food for the mind, not just gum for the eyes. There are films that penetrate so deeply into the mind that they leave a mark for a lifetime. And thinking about something else is already quite difficult. The picture is so imbued with optimism and vital wisdom that if you break it down into quotes, it will help for many years. The dialogue here is smart and capacious, and the game is just great. I think this movie will help many people live better and brighter. To believe in yourself, in your own strength, to realize your dream no matter what. Believe that the world can be different and beautiful. Don’t be afraid to be like everyone else.
No one can save another if fear is stronger than talent.
For many years of work in theater and film, I have seen enough "actors" and "actresses". I specifically take this word in quotation marks, because I do not consider them such. This is not about the old school, but about the current generation of actors, especially the numerous serial brothers. Standing in front of the camera, they can not even connect two words, while receiving fabulous fees. Maybe that's why I was so impressed by Sandrine Bonner's amazing performance. I don't know how to play like that! Subtle, naturally, organically. How she plays with one eye, one eye, one gesture. How accurately conveys the emotions of his heroine. How imperceptibly transformed in moments of spiritual upliftment. Seeing her on the screen, you instantly forget that you are a French actress, it seems that this is a real housewife stuffed with life problems. An unhappy woman living only a dream. This picture is subtle, soulful, Europeanly intelligent. There is nothing superfluous here, every scene, every word, look, nuance has meaning. This picture is beautiful in its own way, but the beauty of the characters here is not external, but internal. Someone may say that this is a female picture (especially it is staged by a woman, based on a female novel). And in part, it will be right, because only a woman can truly feel and understand another woman. But this film should appeal to everyone, regardless of gender, age and nationality. It raises the eternal questions of life. And the heroine's problems are just as close to many of us. I think that all of us have such “chess” as a symbol of hope, something bright. You just have to believe, look and hope. And then our lives will be much better.
The real world existed only in his head and the stories he wrote were his only reality.
10 out of 10
If you came to read a movie review on a movie search, then you are not sure whether this film is worth watching. You won’t read the details of the film here. Just want to know whether or not to watch.
Worth watching. Probably even the most courageous and realistic men to better understand women, although you do not try to do it in ordinary life.
This is one of those movies that you want to go and do. No matter what. It's the process. It seems that everything is possible and that you are capable of anything. Just a minute, chance can change your whole life.
See to be inspired for accomplishments and work.
Take a look at the mood.
Take a look at this French movie.
See if you want to play chess.
Look to fall asleep with the best thoughts.
The only thing I will say with reference to the film is a beautiful thought about the Queen and that she is the most powerful figure. That's how life should be.