Mind Games in “Bobby Fischer Against the World”

Well, I finally caught Magnus Magnusson’s masterpiece, “Bobby Fischer Against the World.” As a film person who can hardly tell you what day it is—but I remember 1972 like it was yesterday, when the world stopped to watch chess! Imagine that, chess! This docu hits the nail on the head capturing the madness of it all. Liz Garbus directed it, and if you know Garbus, she’s no stranger to stirring the pot. This movie? It’s like a slow smorgasbord—some meatballs here, a bit of herring there—layered in complexity, rich with tension.

You ever seen a game of chess so gripping you forget to blink? Fischer’s duel with Boris Spassky in Reykjavik was like that. This film dives into the mind of Fischer, portrayed almost like a rockstar; well, a very, very moody one. I found myself engrossed but also kinda disturbed, like when you’re halfway through surströmming and think, “Why do I even like this?” There’s unease lurking around every corner, a bit like that feeling you get at a dark bus stop in November.

And who could ignore the archival clips? Scenes that pull you back into a time when fashion was… interesting, and world politics played out on a chessboard. Speaking of which, isn’t it mind-boggling how chess set the stage for a Cold War clash? Makes you wonder, right? It’s a reminder of how ludicrously pivotal things can be.

Now, I can’t say I loved every minute. At some points—about midway—my attention drifted to wondering if we’ve got cloudberries in the pantry. But you stick with it, like an old friend, because this film makes you think about obsession, genius, and the price of it all. Sort of like driving through a Skåne fog; sometimes you just gotta trust the road signs, ja?

Bobby Fischer’s story is a labyrinth. You’re drawn in, but it also begs the question—how far is too far? A good mix of nostalgia and reality. Well worth a watch, if not just to see how the heck all this played out behind the scenes. Let’s just say, there’s no IKEA instruction manual for navigating a mind like Fischer’s.

Check the trailer below