Saturday 10 December 2016

Bobby Fischer Against The World (2011)

Liz Garbus examines the tragic and bizarre life of the late chess master from his troubled childhood through his rise to fame and his life as a fugitive.

Considered by many to be the greatest chess player to ever live, Bobby Fischer Against the World is the first and definitive documentary biography of the eccentric genius who rose from humble beginnings and captivated a world audience with his victory over Russia's Boris Spassky at the height of the Cold War. 

Official Trailer




Liz Garbus began her work on the film after Fischer's death in 2008 at the age of 64. She said of Fischer: "It's hard to imagine that in 1972, all eyes were on a chess match, but it does, in fact, seem to be the case. Bobby Fischer was this self-taught Brooklyn boy who took the New York chess scene and then the national chess scene by storm. And the Russians had been dominating the sport for decades. ... So for an American to have a real chance at beating that [Soviet] machine, this was big stuff. ... The symbolism of the match was enormous."

Available on DVD and on demand.