Our topic for today is a French movie from 1958. The plot goes like this: a man murders his boss, but he gets stuck in an elevator and his car full of incriminatory evidence get stolen by a couple that then goes on to murder two Germans.1 Our man gets accused of killing the Germans. Critics really like this movie. They point to leading actress Jeanne Moreau’s superb acting, Louis Malle’s atmospheric noir directing, or Miles Davis’ legendary jazz score. They rarely mention the chess scene.
I can’t even blame them too much for that, since it hardly is a chess scene. Some characters involved in an important side plot get caught in the rain and are rushing into their hotel. Unusually, that is shown through the window behind two unnamed and irrelevant people at the chessboard.
White’s queen’s side is sadly obscured by the player and the piece on g5 appears weirdly deformed through a glass, but the the rest of the position is easily recognised:2
For Malle, this movie was the start of an illustrious career. How differently it could have gone had people actually looked at the board!3 Obviously, the double check the black king finds himself in is impossible.4 Even if it weren’t, the position would still be catastrophic. While white was busy doing useful things, black seems to have mainly focused on the development of his king and the taking of the white h-pawn. He is understandably despondent.
But white is momentarily distracted by four people outside running for cover against the rain, and black sees the opportunity to snatch of the white queen, loudly announcing the vile deed. Yet he doesn’t end on the gallows. Life’s not fair.
Realism: 0/5 I think this position is grounds for reclassifying this movie as a fantasy epic.
Probable winner: White, I guess. Although they don’t seem to follow the rules very closely, so perhaps he will resign in shock at losing his queen.
1. [I would’ve thought that murdering Germans was widely approved of in 1958 France, but apparently not.] ↩
2. [Take the elevator to a beautiful diagram.] ↩
3. [He would’ve had to start a career as a suitcase.] ↩
4. [And pointless. If you’re checking the king this much, just declare a republic.] ↩