Schachnovelle

Overview

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.

Director

• Philipp Stölzl

Cast

• Oliver Masucci as Dr. Josef Bartok
• Albrecht Schuch as Franz-Josef Böhm
• Birgit Minichmayr as Anna Bartok
• Rolf Lassgård as Owen McConnor
• Andreas Lust as Johann Prantl
• Samuel Finzi as Alfred Koller
• Lukas Miko as Gustav Sailer
• Joel Basman as Barkeeper Willem
• Clemens Berndorff as Dr. Swoboda
• Johannes Zeiler as Dr. Fink