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Information

A.k.a.
The Chess Players
Year
1977
Runtime
129 min.
Director
Satyajit Ray
Genres
Drama, Comedy, History
Rating *
7.8
Votes *
2,036
Checks
528
Favs
56
Dislikes
3
Favs/checks
10.6% (1:9)
Favs/dislikes
19:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. elcid's avatar

    elcid

    The dance of the girl with song and music is pure delight for the senses. 2 years 3 months ago
  2. Rohit's avatar

    Rohit

    Sheer brilliance 13 years 6 months ago
  3. Siskoid's avatar

    Siskoid

    In The Chess Players, Satyajit Ray creates a truly full entertainment, using two chess games of unlimited scope. It's a comedy thanks to two obsessed players who indolently meet every day, ignoring their wives at their own peril, and thus encountering all sorts of obstacles to their daily games. The play is often a mirror of what's happening at a much higher level, as this is also a historical drama about the British Empire's annexation of an Indian kingdom, and a massive take-down of colonial policies and attitudes. Colonialism not just as an aggression, but as an erasure of culture and history. Very often in Asian films, white Anglo characters will be played by locals with little talent, badly looped afterwards. Not here, Richard Attenborough is the face of the Empire, and Tom Alter is also great as his translator. So the Brits don't drag the piece down. Just to be safe, Ray also throws in some animation and a few musical numbers. A lovely, colorful, and by turns amusing and tragic epic that uses chess as a metaphor for dueling agendas. 2 years 10 months ago
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In 4 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #77 in Outlook India's Best Bollywood Films
    Outlook India's Best Bollywood Films's icon

    Outlook India's Best Bol…

    77
  2. This movie ranks #113 in National Film Archive of India's 125 Great Indian Films
    National Film Archive of India's 125 Great Indian Films's icon

    National Film Archive of…

    113
  3. This movie ranks #292 in Tom Vick's Asian Cinema: A Field Guide
    Tom Vick's Asian Cinema: A Field Guide's icon

    Tom Vick's Asian Cinema:…

    292
  4. This movie ranks #799 in The Guardian's 1000 Films to See Before You Die
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    The Guardian's 1000 Film…

    799
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