Cast
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1988
Runtime1h 28m
LanguageMandarin
CertificationNR
GenresDrama
Votes3
DirectorTeng Wenji
WritersTeng Wenji
TypeFeature Film
Rating7.0 out of 10
Cast4 credited
Also Known AsChess King
About Chess King
In a small southern frontier town, an old man called “Nail Li” boasts about his chess skills by nailing a general piece to the board, challenging anyone to remove it. During this era, many young people moved to the countryside. The town’s new party secretary, played by Niu Ben, was angry after losing a game and sent his team to the city to find talents in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Wang Yisheng, a Beijing youth known as “The Chess Fool,” was mistakenly labeled a counter-revolutionary during the Cultural Revolution but was saved by those searching for him. Unconcerned about his destination, he was content with food and chess, saying, “What can relieve my worries? Only playing chess.” He became engrossed in the game, leaving memorable matches with various masters in the unfamiliar town.
Directed by Teng Wenji, Chess King leans on a strong ensemble — Xie Yuan, Zhao Liang, Niu Ben — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1988.
Read More on the Blog
User Reviews
7.0
Community rating
Loading reviews…
