Schack (DVD)

WITH OLIVER MASUCCI, ALBRECHT SCHUCH, BIRGIT MINICHMAYR & ROLF LASSGÅRD.

BASED ON THE CLASSIC NOVEL BY STEFAN ZWEIG

When the Nazis march into Vienna, lawyer Josef Bartok tries to flee the country with his wife Anna. The escape fails and Bartok is arrested by the Gestapo. He is then held in isolation in a room at the Metropol Hotel in the city. For days, weeks, and months, the only sound he hears from another human being is the screams of less fortunate prisoners being tortured in adjacent parts of the building. After one of many interrogations, Bartok manages to steal a book about chess. Carefully staging the classic games described in the book becomes the only way for him to avoid a complete breakdown. The world of chess becomes his escape. Director Philipp Stölzl (The North Face, Winnetou & Old Shatterhand) takes on Stefan Zweig's classic novella "Schach". The author was born and worked in Austria but was forced into exile after the Nazis came to power in 1933. Zweig is also known for his depiction of how Europe changed in the aftermath of World War I in the book The World of Yesterday: An European's Memories. It was one of the sources of inspiration for Wes Anderson when he made The Grand Budapest Hotel.

The acclaimed Oliver Masucci plays the lead role of Josef Bartok. Another of the major roles is played by Sweden's own Rolf Lassgård. Other notable actors include Birgit Minichmayr and Albrecht Schuch. WINNER – BEST FILM – GILDE FILMPREIS WINNER – BEST ACTOR, BEST PRODUCER – BAVARIAN FILM AWARDS

WINNER – BEST COSTUME DESIGN – GERMAN FILM AWARDS

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* * * * "Gets under your skin" – Kulturbloggen

"Masucci makes the film worth seeing" – Expressen

"A dream of order when everything falls apart” – DN

”Lassgård makes a lot out of a small role” – Aftonbladet

”Oliver Masucci is brilliant in the lead role” – TT

”Visually elaborate” – DN

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* * * * ”Brilliant” – Kinocritics

”Gripping” – Indiekino Magazin

”Masucci is extraordinary in the lead role” – The JerusalemPost

”Sublime acting” – Hot Movie News

”Strong story and acting, fine direction and stylish cinematography” – Invisible Cinema

Subtitles

Swedish

Language

German