In 1978, young ambitious Soviet chess champion Anatoly Karpov must defend his title against a former mentor and defector to the West Viktor Korchnoi. Their face-off becomes the most dramatic... Read allIn 1978, young ambitious Soviet chess champion Anatoly Karpov must defend his title against a former mentor and defector to the West Viktor Korchnoi. Their face-off becomes the most dramatic championship match in chess history.In 1978, young ambitious Soviet chess champion Anatoly Karpov must defend his title against a former mentor and defector to the West Viktor Korchnoi. Their face-off becomes the most dramatic championship match in chess history.
- Director
- Writer
- Stars
- Awards
- 5 wins & 1 nomination total
Konstantin Khabensky
- Viktor Korchnoy
- (as Konstantin Khabenskiy)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
This is a better than average chess film. Why? Because it has a real-life plot which is usually better than fictionalized plots. In this one, we have a former Russian chess Champion, Korchnoi, having defected to the West, is playing Karpov, the new young icon of Russian chess. Karpov is also a former student of Korchnoi, which complicates the plot and makes it more interesting. In this situation. Will the hot new young rising star win? Or will the old, wily veteran, who knows a bit more about the real world win? Will the teacher beat the student, or will the student best the teacher? Watch for yourself.
I don't understand why it has so low rating. It's awesome movie about chess. Firstly, the scenario shows the rivalry between two great chessmen: Karpov and Korchnoi. I like that it nas some flashbacks to Karpov's childhood. Secondly, the cast is grrat, especially Konstantin Habenskiy as Korchnoi. Thirdly, I like how mind process was shown due to game
So, it's great film about chess.
Good sport biopic, much better than "moving up" and others SB for last years. Excellent game of Khabensky and very neat to real events. So, don't miss.
Chess!
Went to the cinema with big doubts!
Even without that, it was always clear to me that any film relating to the era of the USSR is an anti-Soviet craft with plasticine heroes and a far-fetched plot. Fortunately, this time a completely different case, although, of course, it could not have done without anti-Sovietism. Quote: "If the KGB finds out that we met, you will be sent to the Gulag!".
Firstly, few people in the modern generation probably know, but the GULAG is the Main Directorate of Camps, you can get into the camp, and not into the administration, and secondly, they really laid eyes on Karpov after this meeting, but no more, his meeting with the American did not remain unnoticed. In general, the film does not create an unnecessarily negative image of the USSR and its leaders, which pleases.
The picture tells, as it should - about chess and everything connected with them.
Probably there have never been films in the world cinema that so vividly destroy the myth that chess is not a sport. Nerves heated to the limit, undercover fighting, mental influence and exhausting the enemy by any means, all for the sake of victory, in war all means are good.
Special thanks and respect to K. Khabensky, who, I think, played one of his brightest roles in his entire long career, Yankovsky is also cool!
The only downside to this movie, in my opinion, is the length of time.
And so super!
Went to the cinema with big doubts!
Even without that, it was always clear to me that any film relating to the era of the USSR is an anti-Soviet craft with plasticine heroes and a far-fetched plot. Fortunately, this time a completely different case, although, of course, it could not have done without anti-Sovietism. Quote: "If the KGB finds out that we met, you will be sent to the Gulag!".
Firstly, few people in the modern generation probably know, but the GULAG is the Main Directorate of Camps, you can get into the camp, and not into the administration, and secondly, they really laid eyes on Karpov after this meeting, but no more, his meeting with the American did not remain unnoticed. In general, the film does not create an unnecessarily negative image of the USSR and its leaders, which pleases.
The picture tells, as it should - about chess and everything connected with them.
Probably there have never been films in the world cinema that so vividly destroy the myth that chess is not a sport. Nerves heated to the limit, undercover fighting, mental influence and exhausting the enemy by any means, all for the sake of victory, in war all means are good.
Special thanks and respect to K. Khabensky, who, I think, played one of his brightest roles in his entire long career, Yankovsky is also cool!
The only downside to this movie, in my opinion, is the length of time.
And so super!
The trailer was initially hooked, because the film has an incredible cast. The young Ivan Yankovsky as Anatoly Karpov, the incredible Konstantin Khabensky as Korchnoi, and the beautiful Diana Pozharskaya (I like her from the Hotel Eleon series) as Karpov's wife. And of course, the joint life of the actors fueled interest in the film.
The film is, of course, biographical, but there are some inconsistencies, and the authors showed their version and their view of those events. Together with the wrestling of chess players, we saw a stagnant system in the USSR, when a step to the left, a step to the right, was tantamount to execution. Of course, under the Soviet regime, they worked for the result, but they did not always take into account the interests of the people. Apparently, therefore, Karpov's opponent Korchnoi decided to emigrate abroad. Of course, there were pluses and minuses, but it is not for us to judge, because we did not live in that country and we have nothing to compare.
The film is, of course, biographical, but there are some inconsistencies, and the authors showed their version and their view of those events. Together with the wrestling of chess players, we saw a stagnant system in the USSR, when a step to the left, a step to the right, was tantamount to execution. Of course, under the Soviet regime, they worked for the result, but they did not always take into account the interests of the people. Apparently, therefore, Karpov's opponent Korchnoi decided to emigrate abroad. Of course, there were pluses and minuses, but it is not for us to judge, because we did not live in that country and we have nothing to compare.
Did you know
- ConnectionsReferences Closing Gambit: Korchnoi vs Karpov & The Kremlin (2018)
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- The World Champion
- Filming locations
- Dom Kino, Moscow, Russia(interiors)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- RUR 700,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $6,241,731
- Runtime
- 2h 25m(145 min)
- Color
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