Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Michel Piccoli | ... | Akiva Liebskind | |
Alexandre Arbatt | ... | Pavius Fromm | |
Liv Ullmann | ... | Marina Fromm | |
Leslie Caron | ... | Henia Liebskind | |
Wojciech Pszoniak | ... | Le grand maître Felton - l'équipe de Fromm | |
Jean-Hugues Anglade | ... | Miller, l'équipe de Fromm | |
Daniel Olbrychski | ... | Tac-Tac, l'équipe de Liebskind | |
![]() |
Hubert Saint-Macary | ... | Foldes |
Michel Aumont | ... | Stepan Ivanovitch Kerossian - l'équipe de Liebskind | |
![]() |
Pierre Michaël | ... | Yachvili |
![]() |
Serge Avedikian | ... | Fadenko |
![]() |
Pierre Vial | ... | Anton Heller |
Bernhard Wicki | ... | Pühl | |
Jacques Boudet | ... | Stuffli | |
![]() |
Benoît Régent | ... | Barabal |
Two masters of chess duel each other not only in their game but also in their different ideologies. The veteran Akiva is a Soviet Jew and ferocious Communist, master of his game but also dealing with a declining health while the young and restless genius Pavius has defected to the West to escape from the Communism tentacles. Their differences will be put to test while they're both competing in the World Chess Championship, with a huge prize at stake just as much as the political ideologies behind those characters. Written by Rodrigo Amaro
Geneva welcomes the 23rd world chess championship, which sees the confrontation of the Soviet citizen Michel Piccoli, unconquered for 12 years, with his young fellow countryman, now a refugee in the West, Alexandre Arbatt, winner (conqueror) of the " tournament of the candidates "... The chess is only an excuse for a political tussle, the real game taking place gently in the wings in an East-West confrontation. The whole thing is perhaps a little dated.