Chess Story (2021): cast, story & where to watch
2021 · Film · ★ 7.1
Released in 2021, Chess Story is a thriller, drama, war and history film directed by Philipp Stölzl, running about 112 minutes. “He turned resistance into a game” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 1938. While the Nazi troops march into Vienna, the lawyer Josef Bartok hastily tries to escape to the USA with his wife but is arrested by the Gestapo. Bartok remains steadfast and refuses to cooperate with the Gestapo that requires confidential information from him. Thrown into solitary confinement, Bartok is psychologically tormented for months and begins to weaken. However, when he steals an old book about chess it sets him on course to overcome the mental suffering inflicted upon him, until it becomes a dangerous obsession.
Who’s in it. Chess Story stars Oliver Masucci as Dr. Josef Bartok, Birgit Minichmayr as Anna Bartok, Albrecht Schuch as Franz-Josef Böhm and Samuel Finzi as Alfred Koller, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.1/10, Chess Story has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Film Movement Plus and Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Chess Story page.
If you liked it. Fans of Chess Story tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Chess Story (2021)?
- In US, Chess Story is available to stream on Film Movement Plus and Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Chess Story worth watching?
- Chess Story holds an audience score of 7.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama, war and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Chess Story?
- Chess Story stars Oliver Masucci, Birgit Minichmayr, Albrecht Schuch, Samuel Finzi and Andreas Lust.
- When was Chess Story released?
- Chess Story was released in 2021, with a runtime of about 112 minutes.