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Film Description
Based upon Nabokov's story of troubled genius, this meditative film charts the unhappy life of a chess grandmaster spurned by his family and persecuted by his coach.
Set in the 1920’s this is the story of a chess Grand Master (played superbly by Turturro) with an edgy grasp of reality returning to the Italian Lakes, scene of ... more >
Set in the 1920’s this is the story of a chess Grand Master (played superbly by Turturro) with an edgy grasp of reality returning to the Italian Lakes, scene of a childhood glimpse of his prodigy. What began as an escape from the trials and tribulations of his parents doomed marriage has become an all-consuming raison detre. Only winning will suffice but his world is irrevocably changed when he meets Natalie, she is a society beauty who’s only problem is her mothers constant match-making, but she is quickly drawn to the erratic yet sensitive genius and shows him there is a world that is not black and white. He though is ill equipped to deal with it. This visually stunning film, based on a story by Vladimir Nabokov is directed with tremendous panache by Marlene Gorris, and backed up by a strong cast, notably Geraldine James as Natalie’s mother, Orla Brady as Aunt Anna and particular mention must go to Alexander Hunting as the young Luzhin.
