Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Chess of the Wind

      1976 1 hr. 33 min. Drama List
      100% 8 Reviews Tomatometer 88% Fewer than 50 Ratings Audience Score Screened publicly just once before it was banned and then lost for decades, this rediscovered jewel of Iranian cinema reemerges to take its place as one of the most singular and astonishing works of the country's pre-revolution New Wave. A hypnotically stylized murder mystery awash in shivery period atmosphere, Chess of the Wind unfolds in an ornate, candlelit mansion where a web of greed, violence, and betrayal ensnares the heirs to a family fortune as they vie for control of their recently-deceased matriarch's estate. Melding the influences of European modernism, gothic horror, and classical Persian art, director Mohammad Reza Aslani crafts an exquisitely controlled mood piece that erupts in a stunningly subversive final act in which class conventions, gender roles, and even time itself are upended with shocking ferocity. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (3) audience reviews
      Soheil H The visually captivating frames and attention to details and the symbolism are IMPRESSIVE and important! Pay close attention to repeated scenes and analyze lighting, camera work, and scene arrangement specifically the last scene. This film stands out for its exceptional acting, direction, and visual elements, especially in depicting 'Fakhri Khorvash' as a compelling, ailing yet dynamic princess Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/22/23 Full Review Yellowfur D #siff—8 4.5/5 Totally exceeded expectations. The exquisite and unique scenery gives a refreshing taste, and the lens language often cuts from close-ups of hands to panoramic shots to emphasize the unique style. It refuses to detail the story and gives the initiative to the audience. Really like. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/27/23 Full Review Audience Member A masterpiece with beautiful cinematography. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      61% 83% House of Gucci TRAILER for House of Gucci 71% 86% Take Out Girl TRAILER for Take Out Girl 90% 75% The Ground Beneath My Feet TRAILER for The Ground Beneath My Feet 84% 94% Downton Abbey TRAILER for Downton Abbey 67% % The Garden Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All Chess of the Wind photos

      Chess of the Wind

      The Chess of the Wind (1976) The Chess of the Wind (1976) The Chess of the Wind (1976) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (8) Critics Reviews
      David Mermelstein Wall Street Journal Happenstance alone saved this movie from oblivion, and how lucky we are for it—a moody tale of ugly family and class dynamics, reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe, complete with an utterly unexpected, numbing final shot. Sep 29, 2022 Full Review Godfrey Cheshire RogerEbert.com Aslani's vision is still breathtakingly distinctive, an incisively devastating social critique embedded in a complex tale of intrigue, greed, oppression, and murder. Rated: 4/4 Oct 29, 2021 Full Review Glenn Kenny New York Times Aslani pulls story threads together with an elegant moving camera that doesn't immediately give up all the secrets a scene may contain. Oct 28, 2021 Full Review Trevor Johnston Radio Times An ornate Tehran mansion hosts a fateful tussle for the spoils of a late matriarch in this Iranian melodrama. Rated: 4/5 Apr 21, 2022 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Comparatively short, sharp and disciplined... Nov 8, 2021 Full Review Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse We are quite lucky that "Chess Game of the Wind" eventually reemerged, not just due to its immense quality as a movie, but also as a testament to the progressiveness of the pro-Revolution Iranian cinema. Dec 20, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Screened publicly just once before it was banned and then lost for decades, this rediscovered jewel of Iranian cinema reemerges to take its place as one of the most singular and astonishing works of the country's pre-revolution New Wave. A hypnotically stylized murder mystery awash in shivery period atmosphere, Chess of the Wind unfolds in an ornate, candlelit mansion where a web of greed, violence, and betrayal ensnares the heirs to a family fortune as they vie for control of their recently-deceased matriarch's estate. Melding the influences of European modernism, gothic horror, and classical Persian art, director Mohammad Reza Aslani crafts an exquisitely controlled mood piece that erupts in a stunningly subversive final act in which class conventions, gender roles, and even time itself are upended with shocking ferocity.
      Director
      Mohammad Reza Aslani
      Screenwriter
      Mohammad Reza Aslani
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      Persian