Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) PG
Searching for Bobby Fischer is based on the true life story of Josh Waitzkin who, at the age of sixteen, was the highest-ranked American chess player under eighteen. It isn't just Josh's tale, however. The name and image of the mysterious chess genius Bobby Fischer infiltrate this movie. He was the only American chess hero to stun the world with his genius but would then vanish for years at a time. Fischer is as much an icon to the game of chess as Michael Jordan is to basketball.
At the early age of seven, Josh Waitzkin (Max Pomeranc) becomes fascinated by the game of chess and understands strategy as if it was second nature. He learns to hone his skills by challenging the speed chess hustlers who occupy the nearby Washington Square. His father (Joe Mantenga) recognizes his gift and employs an ex-chess master (Ben Kingsley) as a tutor. Despite warning from this tutor, his father enters Josh into dozens of chess tournaments around the state and slowly begins to apply subtle pressure. Soon winning becomes important, perhaps too important. For the first time this young chess prodigy develops a fear of not only losing the game, but losing something more dear to him.
Let's be honest, the film is about chess, not the most exciting of topics. But Searching for Bobby Fischer certainly makes for engaging entertainment. Writer/Director, Steven Zaillian, has done a marvelous job of finding and portraying meaning in this film and even teaches us all a few lessons along the way. One of which is decency, demonstrated by Josh in his inability to hate his opponents and his willingness to see them as peers and not enemies.
A film to be enjoyed by all.
