Chess Films Retrospective

Great Chess Movie (original title - Jouer sa vie) (1982) Running time: 120 minutes - This in-depth look at the highly-charged world of international chess features footage of Russian grand master Anatoly Karpov, his rival, Russian defector Victor Korchnoi, and the elusive American player, Bobby Fischer. Scenes of international chess tournaments are interwoven with author Fernando Arrabal's historical, ideological, psychological and sociological analyses of the game.
Special 5th screening thanks to the New York Public Library's Reserve Film and Video Collection
Two 16mm short films will be screened on November 6th at 2:15 PM
Passionate Pastime (1958) Running time: 28 minutes
Director, Hans Richter; narrated by Vincent Price; original score by Darius Milhaud.
Outlines the history of chess from ancient times to the present and traces its origins in India, China, and Persia. Prints, painting, illuminated manuscripts, live photography and rare chess pieces are shown as well as chess figures designed after Picasso and Braque.
 
Masters of Disaster (1985) Running time: 30 minutes
Director, Sonya Friedman.
 
The story of an inner-city teacher, Bob Cotter, and eight Black elementary school children who challenged some skeptical observers by organizing a chess team and going on to win a national championship. Called the "Masters of Disaster", a label they adopted during their early struggles, the team is shown at practice, in school, in competition, on a trip to Japan, and during a visit with the President of the United States.