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Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Olivier Maes | ... | Max enfant |
Pierre Richard | ... | Ambroise | |
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Christian Maillet | ... | Belliard |
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Yves Hanchar | ... | Le Marchand |
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Harry Cleven | ... | Le Dandy |
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Yves Degen | ... | L'Homme du tripot |
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Jean Gerardy | ... | Deschapelles |
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Alexandre von Sivers | ... | Dimmer |
James Wilby | ... | Lord Staunton | |
Denis Lavant | ... | Max | |
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Henri Billen | ... | Le Vieux Comté |
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Delphine Bibet | ... | Suzanne |
Hilde Heijnen | ... | Anne-Lise | |
Catherine Deneuve | ... | Marquise | |
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Pascal Crochet | ... | Armand |
In 19th century, a disillusioned priest helps a young boy drifter who's a chess wunderkind to move on up in life and social structures using his talent. Years later, he's a success, but game of life and love has higher stakes than chess.
Not being a chess player, when reading the comments I was not sure. Pierre Richard used to be one of my favorite actors in comedies. This is not a comedy, and Richard is not convincing as a preacher. But, let me reassure you, this movie is never boring, it's not about chess, it's about how far can you go in life in general. "This is a game that kills me" is often repeated and in this film it is true, although not literally, but there is much at stake. A mother (Catherine Deneuve) organizes a tournament in which money, a title and her daughter is the price. The daughter, Hilde Heynen, is perfectly casted and plays her role as in a Forster-movie. Without telling you the entire plot, through schemes, she plays check-mate against her mother. Nice locations, nice script with good switches, poor acting by Denis Lavant or poor direction(?). But Hilde Heynen is a revelation. She's the cunning part of this story and plays it all the way through. 8 points.