Bobby Fischer, the world-renowned chess player, passed away Thursday at the age of 64.  Fischer, best known for his win over Boris Spassky during the Cold War, died in Iceland due to kidney failure.

In honor of America’s champion, I would the love the opportunity to suggest a simply fantastic movie: Searching for Bobby Fischer.  Although the 1993 film is not really about the chess master per se, it does provide great insight into one of the world’s most respected and dissected games.

Fischer, the directorial debut from screenwriter Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List), is a beautiful film about young boy who discovers he has a natural talent for the game.  Wonderful performances include a then barely-known Joan Allen as a mother who wants her child to live a normal life, Joe Mantegna as a father who lives vicariously through his successful son, and Max Pomeranc as the overwhelmed prodigy who just wants to have fun playing chess.

The movie, based on a true story, is also a visual treat highly-deserving of its accolades for cinematography.  The moment Josh puts the down a phone in the kitchen…runs out to the living room to make a chess move…and then hurries back to resume his conversation is an amazing scene.  Once you realize he can be seen the whole time through the swinging door, you can’t help but be wowed.

So watch Bobby Fischer for your first or fifth time.  If nothing else, it’ll delude you into thinking you could be a chess master too.