Searching for Bobby Fischer is a 1993 biography and drama film. Directed by Steven Zaillian, the film was written by Fred Waitzkin and Steven Zaillian. The movie stars Joe Mantegna, Ben Kingsley and Max Pomeranc in the lead roles. The film tells the story of a pre-adolescent chess prodigy who is encouraged to improve himself to become a champion like the famous but unpopular Bobby Fischer. The movie has 6 wins and 11 nominations.

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Plot

In Search of Bobby Fischer is based on the life of chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin, written by his father Fred Waitzkin. Josh Waitzkin is a boy who starts to show talent in chess at the age of 7. His father (Joe Mantegna) encourages it, hoping that it will not radically change his son's outlook on life. Showing an unusual early maturity in open-air matches in New York's Washington Square, Josh soon befriends a hustler named Vinnie and learns fast chess from him. Josh's parents hire Bruce (Ben Kingsley), a famous chess coach who teaches him the benefits of measured planning. Bruce instills in the boy the "Bobby Fischer" strategy but emphasizes Fischer's negative traits, especially his disdain for his opponents. In the process, Josh becomes bored with Bruce's system and chess in general, and deliberately loses a match, seriously jeopardizing his chances of winning a national championship.

Throughout the movie, Josh is in danger of sacrificing his basic decency, but in the end he manages to blend ruthless competition with good sportsmanship. A title card at the end of the movie states that Josh leads a well-balanced life and continues to play chess, while the 1996 NBC version states that Josh is working to become a Grandmaster and that his primary inspiration is no longer Bobby Fischer, but Jack Kerouac.

Theme

The main theme of Searching for Bobby Fischer is a boy's struggle to maintain sportsmanship and human values during his development as a chess prodigy. The film questions whether Josh should become a champion like Bobby Fischer, focused only on winning. Josh tries to find a way to blend ruthless competition with good sportsmanship.

Cast and Characters

Josh Waitzkin (Max Pomeranc): A young boy who shows an extraordinary talent for chess.

Fred Waitzkin (Joe Mantegna): Josh's father, a writer who encourages his son's chess talent.

Bruce Pandolfini (Ben Kingsley): A cool-headed chess instructor who teaches Josh the strategies of Bobby Fischer.

Vinnie (Laurence Fishburne): A chess-playing con man in Washington Square who teaches Josh fast chess.

Bonnie Waitzkin (Joan Allen): Josh's mother.

Jonathan Poe (Michael Nirenberg): A chess player who is Josh's rival.

Poe's Teacher (Robert Stephens): Jonathan Poe's chess teacher.

Box Office

The movie grossed US$7,266,383 worldwide. On its opening weekend in the US and Canada, August 15, 1993, it grossed US$1,121,354. The estimated budget for the film was US$12,000,000.

Awards and Nominations

The film won a total of 6 awards and received 11 nominations.

Awards

• American Society of Cinematographers, USA (1994): Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Motion Picture Screenings (Conrad L. Hall)
• Camera Image (1994): Bronze Frog Award (Conrad L. Hall)
• MTV Movie + TV Awards (1994): Best New Filmmaker Award (Steven Zaillian)
• Tokyo International Film Festival (1993): Special Jury Award (Steven Zaillian)
• Tokyo International Film Festival (1993): Special Mention (Max Pomeranc)
• Valladolid International Film Festival (1993): Best New Director Award (Steven Zaillian)

Nominations

• Academy Awards, USA (1994): Best Cinematography (Conrad L. Hall)
• Cinematography (1994): Golden Frog Nominee (Conrad L. Hall)
• Acting Guild of America, USA (1994): Best Cast in Feature Film, Drama (Avy Kaufman)
• Chicago Film Critics Circle Awards (1994): Best Screenplay (Steven Zaillian)
• Humanitas Award (1994): Feature Film Category (Steven Zaillian)
• Tokyo International Film Festival (1993): Tokyo Grand Prix (Steven Zaillian)
• USC Screenwriter Award (1994): USC Screenwriter Award (Fred Waitzkin and Steven Zaillian)
• Valladolid International Film Festival (1993): Golden Nail (Steven Zaillian)
• Young Artist Awards (1994): Best Family Film - Drama
• Young Artist Awards (1994): Best Actor Under Ten in a Motion Picture (Max Pomeranc)
• 20/20 Awards (2014): Felix (Conrad L. Hall)