| Dangerous Moves | |
| Director: | Richard Dembo |
| Producer: | Arthur Cohn Martine Marignac |
| Starring: | Michel Piccoli Alexandre Arbatt Liv Ullmann |
| Editing: | Agnès Guillemot |
| Distributor: | Gaumont |
| Runtime: | 110 minutes |
| Language: | French |
| Country: | France Switzerland |
| Gross: | $2.5 million[1] |
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.
The film follows the story of two chess grandmasters, Akiva Liebskind from the Soviet Union and Pavius Fromm from Hungary, who compete in a world championship match in Geneva, Switzerland. The game of chess serves as the backdrop to explore the complex personal and political issues that the two players face.
Akiva is a Jewish chess player from the Soviet Union who is haunted by his past experiences during the Holocaust. He is pitted against Pavius, a young and ambitious player from Hungary who is supported by his government.
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, for example, is struggling with his identity and is feeling increasingly isolated from the Soviet Union, while Pavius is dealing with the conflicting demands of his government and his own ambitions.
As the game progresses, the stakes become higher, and the players become more emotionally invested in the outcome. Ultimately, the game reaches a dramatic conclusion that has far-reaching consequences for both players.
Throughout the film, there are flashbacks that provide insight into the players' personal lives and the political contexts that they are operating in. The film explores themes such as identity, ambition, loyalty, and the role of politics in shaping personal lives.
The film was released in several countries around the world, including the United States. The film's success at the box office and critical acclaim helped to establish its place in cinematic history as a classic of the genre.
Dangerous Moves was released during the height of the Cold War, a period of political tension between the Soviet Union and the United States. The film's exploration of personal and political issues against the backdrop of a high-stakes chess match resonated with audiences around the world, and it helped to cement the film's place as a classic of the genre.
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.[2] 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.
Dangerous Moves won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1984;[3] 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.
The CD soundtrack composed by Gabriel Yared is available on Music Box Records label (website).