Directed By: Magdalena Pita
2010 | 50 min
Poland

Friday, November 11: 6:00 pm

Linder Theater
New York Premiere

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was president in name and potentate in action of the Republic of Kalmykia from 1993 to 2010. A former chess champion, Ilyumzhinov issued a decree in 1996 calling for the establishment of Chess City and the creation of a mandatory chess curriculum in elementary schools. Now, throughout the tiny domain, a part of the Russian Federation, young school kids shout out the first rule of the game-"The king is the most important piece!"-alongside their Cyrillic ABCs. Two young players exhibit promise under the guidance of their demanding taskmaster who educates them in the Machiavellian tactics of the board game-"Your opponent must be finished off in the first move!" When the 13-year-old Alekhan goes to a national children's tournament, we watch to see if he has what it takes to one day fulfill the Kalmykian collective dream of becoming a chess master.