Searching for Bobby Fischer

Based on Fred Waitzkin's book about his son, this drama concerns the pressures inflicted on a seven-year-old boy when his parents discover that he is a chess prodigy. Josh Waitzkin (played by Max Pomeranc, an actual chess champion) is drawn to the chess players who congregate in New York City's Washington Square Park. Before long, Josh exhibits a talent for the game, prompting his father to hire well-respected tutor Bruce Pandolfini to coach him. Josh, however, prefers playing in the park with Vinnie, a hustler who specializes in speed chess. Pressure mounts as Josh triumphs in competitions and rises in the ranks. In the end, the boy wins a major tournament by employing both the methodical approach of Pandolfini and Vinnie's effective bluffing. Interwoven with the narrative is archival footage of master chess player Bobby Fischer at a young age and later, when his behavior became increasingly erratic. (Circulates).