Zugzwang 1989

Matthieu Carriere, who once starred in German director Volkor Schlondorff's breakthrough film Young Torless, turns director himself for Fool's Mate. Michael Marwitz plays a once-famous concert pianist and chess whiz. He compromises his talents by casting his lot with a group of self-destructive druggies and gamblers. Marwitz' new circle of friends effectively ruins his marriage to Victoria Tennant, an English architect. Fool's Mate makes no effort to cheer up its audience, but this sort of fare apparently is what the European film-festival circuit thrives on.

Cast:

Victoria Tennant
Alice Gordon 

Michael Marwitz
Lucas Tillman 

Stuart Wilson
Nikos Mitradis 

Mareike Carrière
Judy Miller 

Peter Sattmann
Hausemann 

Anatoli Karpov
Chess player 

• Fool's Mate