Até o Último Obstáculo

This film is an adaption of Stefan Zweig's "The Royal Game", also known as the "Chess Story" (1941), playing in Hungary, Budapest in 1956. It contains some nice chess combinations, favoring chess lovers and fans, but the whole movie is of course far deeper than that and is enjoyable for everyone. The plot runs on several threads, and all the main characters have a passion for chess. The actors give excellent performance, and the movie has some special effects, trying to visualise how great chess players can think simultaneously, and (sometimes) touching a thin line of sanity. This psychotriller has a great plot twist in the end, which makes it not only special but also unforgettable.

I've watched the movie as part of Cinelibri 2024 and it was one of the best for this year's selection.

The interweaving of the life stories of the participants is done very subtly and consistently. The film holds your attention from start to finish and when you realize what is happening it literally grabs you by the throat. Great acting, a movie buff's delight.

A great psychological thriller that reveals to you how predictable human nature is, how easily manipulated people are and how insatiable the human thirst for freedom is. The ending is a masterpiece, i love how unpredictable it is - it left me speechless and crying.