Dangerous Moves (French: La Diagonale du fou, "The Fool's Diagonal", referring to the chess piece called the bishop in English but the fool in French) is a 1984 French-language film directed by Richard Dembo and produced by Arthur Cohn. It stars Michel Piccoli, Alexandre Arbatt, as well as Liv Ullmann, Leslie Caron, and Bernhard Wicki in supporting roles. The film was a co-production between companies in France and Switzerland. It tells the story of two very different men competing in the final match of the World Chess Championship. One is a 52-year-old Soviet Jew who holds the title, and the other is a 35-year-old genius who defected to the West several years earlier.
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Plot
The film follows the story of two chess grandmasters, Akiva Liebskind, ever loyal to the Soviet Union and Pavius Fromm, a Hungarian dissident, who compete in a world championship match in Geneva, Switzerland.
As the match unfolds, the two players engage in a series of intense and strategic chess moves, but their personal issues and political pressures continue to impact their game. Akiva struggles with a serious heart condition while Pavius must contend with the consequences of defecting.
As the game progresses, the pressure begins to take its toll on the players. Akiva's health spirals. Fromm's personal life disintegrates. Game after game the cat and mouse tactics of power, espionage, and patriotism all become part of a game from which neither man can emerge truly victorious.
Cast
Michel Piccoli as Akiva Liebskind
Alexandre Arbatt as Pavius Fromm
Liv Ullmann as Marina Fromm
Leslie Caron as Henia Liebskind
Wojciech Pszoniak as Felton, Fromm's team
Jean-Hugues Anglade as Miller, Fromm's team
Daniel Olbrychski as Tac-Tac, Liebskind's friend
Hubert Saint-Macary as Foldes
Michel Aumont as Kerossian, Liebskind's friend
Pierre Michaël as Yachvili
Serge Avedikian as Fadenko
Pierre Vial as Anton Heller
Bernhard Wicki as Puhl, arbiter
Jacques Boudet as Stuffli
Benoît Régent as Barabal
Production
The film was released in several countries around the world, including the United States, during the height of the Cold War, a period of political tension between the Soviet Union and the United States.
Reception
Despite winning several European awards, the movie had limited commercial success until it received an Academy Award.
Critics praised the film for its intelligent script, nuanced performances, and engaging storyline. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 67% based on 6 reviews, with an average score of 7.3/10. The movie's exploration of personal and political issues against the backdrop of a high-stakes chess match was particularly lauded. The film's themes of identity, ambition, and loyalty were also widely praised.
Awards
Dangerous Moves won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1984; it was submitted by the Swiss government, and gave that nation its first Oscar win. It also won the Louis Delluc Prize, the Prix de l'Académie du Cinéma and the César Award for Best Debut.
Soundtrack
The CD soundtrack composed by Gabriel Yared is available on Music Box Records label.