THE STORY – Hungarian chess prodigy Judit Polgár challenges champion Garry Kasparov and her controlling father over 15 years, breaking gender barriers to become the greatest female player ever and one of history’s finest.
THE CAST – Judit Polgár, Garry Kasparov
THE TEAM – Rory Kennedy (Director), Mark Bailey & Keven McAlester (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 93 Minutes
Six years after the astounding success of “The Queen’s Gambit,” Netflix has produced the documentary “Queen of Chess.” Though the acclaimed miniseries was based on a 1983 novel, the true story of Hungarian chess grandmaster Judit Polgár’s rise to fame in the 1990s and 2000s hits similar beats. And yet, as is often the case, truth is wilder than fiction. Academy Award nominee Rory Kennedy’s documentary chronicles Polgár’s life, from her unrelenting training as a child, to facing absurd sexism in competition, to the longstanding rivalry that changed the course of her career. It’s the sort of documentary that brings the competition to life, making the audience want to cheer and jeer all along the way; a true crowdpleaser.
Polgár’s career started when she was just a young child. Her father decided to turn his three daughters into chess champions. Why chess? “Because it was cheap to own the set,” their mother says. They homeschooled their daughters to create more time for intensive chess study, dedicating as much time as they could to making the girls experts. They were made to memorize thousands and thousands of notecards with various chess scenarios, quickly becoming fluent in every sort of game before they were even preteens. Though Sofia, the eldest daughter, initially started taking off as a chess player, Judit soon began to outshine her, taking on tougher and tougher opponents with her aggressive style. And yet, right away, she faced a problem: girls aren’t really allowed to play in the men’s tournaments, no matter how good you are.
While the 1990s don’t seem so far away, “Queen of Chess” showcases the blatant sexism Polgár and other women in the sport faced throughout their careers. Headlines like “Are women born dumb?” are riddled throughout this story. The men openly discuss how women don’t have the “ferocity” to compete with men or the strategic thinking to get the better of them. These sexist quotes are often dropped by men in such a matter-of-fact manner that the audience howls in response, as the film looks upon them with a raised eyebrow. And yet, year after year passes by in Judit’s career, and though she broke down many of these barriers, the sexism persisted. Soon, Judit faces off against the greatest chess player of all time, Garry Kasparov, kicking off a years-long rivalry.
The idea of a chess documentary may sound stuffy, but “Queen of Chess” soars with a kickass attitude and driving energy. Its soundtrack alternates between a gripping score from Camilo Forero and female punk rock needle drops, pumping fuel into these chess matches and pushing you to the edge of your seat. Every photograph is overlaid with a ripped paper texture, with bright colors underneath, bursting with passion. Utilizing home videos, photographs, and footage from matches, in addition to modern interviews, we get a sense of what drove Judit’s unyielding fight to dominate. The fearless energy hilariously skewers every sexist remark, as if pointing at them and laughing. Furthermore, for those of us without much chess knowledge, the film’s impeccable editing helps us understand every move in these intense matches. With text overlays, descriptive interviews, and supplemental footage, each match makes perfect sense and builds tension throughout. They play out with the rhythm of the best sports dramas, volleying advantage back and forth, keeping us on our toes, and wondering who will come out on top.
“Queen of Chess” may not be a revolutionary documentary, telling a familiar story of overcoming adversity, but it does document a revolutionary in the field of chess. As Judit faces off with Kasparov again and again, the film humanizes them both in unexpected ways. Kasparov is never a faceless villain or caricature, nor does it let him off the hook for sexism. Still, we see his growth as a competitor, and how Judit challenged him, changed him, and paved a new path. It’s what makes “Queen of Chess” a thrilling documentary that’ll get its hooks in you and have you wondering if Judit will indeed best her longtime rival.
