1938. While the Nazi troops march into Vienna, the lawyer Josef Bartok hastily tries to escape to the USA with his wife but is arrested by the Gestapo. Bartok remains steadfast and refuses to cooperate with the Gestapo that requires confidential information from him. Thrown into solitary confinement, Bartok is psychologically tormented for months and begins to weaken. However, when he steals an old book about chess it sets him on course to overcome the mental suffering inflicted upon him, until it becomes a dangerous obsession.
as Dr. Josef Bartok
as Franz-Josef Böhm
as Anna Bartok
as Owen McConnor
as Johann Prantl
as Alfred Koller
as Gustav Sailer
as Barkeeper Willem
as Dr. Swoboda
as Dr. Fink
as Dienstmädchen Klara
as Fridl
as Schutzmann Erich
as Schachspieler an Bar
as Schiffsarzt Dr. Wouters
as Schiffskellner Harry
as Köchin
as Fahrer Max
as Dr. Auer
as Schachspieler an Bar
as Beamter in Hotelbibliothek
as Seward Claas
as Fahrer
as Passkontrolleur am Hafen
as Demonstrant
as Kellner Palais Auersperg
as Gestapomänner
as Gestapomänner
as Gestapomänner
as Pianist Hotel Metropole
as Beamte an Hotelrezeption
as Franz-Josef Böhm und Mirko Czentovic
as Gestapo-Beamter