Ronit J

Fahim (2019) Synopsis:

The story of Fahim Mohammad, world junior chess champion, born in Bangladesh in 2000, and currently playing in France.

Fahim (2019) Review:

I love chess. Every day, I watch at least one video by Agadmator and play at least a game or two on chess.com. Naturally, I was attracted to this film. Also, I’ve been meaning to practice my French, so that was another excuse to watch Fahim.

Part of me was worried this would end up like another Dheepan. In case you haven’t seen it, that film deals with a former LTTE militant who illegally immigrates to France. Despite winning the Palme d’Or, I found it to be a very unworthy and idiotic film, bordering poverty porn.

Fahim is not that. It is an empathetic exploration of a refugee father-son duo who illegally come to France because that’s the only way for them to survive. As the story progresses, we slowly get more and more information about Fahim’s backstory, further shedding light on the gravity of their situation.

A Film About Chess

Chess remains an integral part of the film. While it doesn’t nerd out over the game like in Queen’s Gambit, Fahim’s love for it is never in doubt. He’s a good chess player, but he’s no Bobby Fischer. He ends up drawing against Charpentier, which results in him feeling bad and angry—a natural reaction for a gifted individual facing defeat for the first time. While the mechanics of the game aren’t explored in detail, the surface level exploration is still intriguing enough to make you want to play a game yourself.

There are a few name-drops, particularly the world champions (Kasparov, Karpov, Anand and even Carlsen), but I found the lack of French players a bit odd. I mean, Maxime Vachier Lagrave is still one of the world’s top players, with him reaching world no. 2 at his peak. It would have been nice to have mentions of him, if not a cameo. But, that’s me nitpicking.

All in all, the film isn’t a nerdy chess film, but the parts where it focuses on chess, it does a good enough job to intrigue you about the game.

The Evils That Immigrants Deal With

Immigration has been a hot topic of debate for decades now. As much as people see immigrants as the problem, many fail to see the reason behind their decision to leave. Most are desperate. Some are even fleeing for their lives. Fahim’s is one such situation.

Fahim’s father used to be vocal in his dissent, protesting against the corrupt government of Bangladesh. As a result, he faced many threats, one of them being an attempted kidnapping of Fahim. To save his life and to offer his family a better future, they decide to take Fahim to France and take a bet on his chess career as a route to citizenship. Now, this reasoning might seem odd, but not once does it feel unnatural or forced. Fahim was mildly popular back in Bangladesh because of his winning streak. Plus, his skill over the chessboard makes it a viable option for them. After all, sportspersons tend to get special treatment in such cases, no?

But even this attempt isn’t without its share of troubles. Fahim doesn’t get into Charpentier’s class immediately. While Fahim learns French rather quickly, his father barely picks up a few stray phrases. They get scammed by an Indian Immigration Officer who mistranslates their case so he can push forward someone else who might have bribed him. Hell, Fahim’s father is even given a notice to leave the country, which adds a whole layer of turmoil to the film’s already hard-hitting human drama.

Fahim’s exploration of human relationships and perseverance are what make the film stand out as a compelling drama.

Fahim (2019) Ending Explained (SPOILERS)

Despite all odds, Fahim makes it to the French National Chess Championship. His match is scheduled on the same day that his father is taken in for questioning and hearing. Coincidentally, at that same moment, the French President is live on the radio taking questions from the public.

Fahim wins, defeating Charpentier’s student. Meanwhile, Mathilde asks the President over call a very poignant question about immigration, giving the example of Fahim, who has become the Junior French Chess Champion, but he is technically not a French Citizen. The film fades to black, cuing a montage of the real life Fahim with captions that explain what happened.

While the finale is dramatised, it turns out that the President actually did intervene and stop Fahim’s father’s deportation. Two years later, their family was reunited in France, where they continue to live even today.

Is Fahim (2019) worth watching?

Yes. If you like a good sports drama, this has it. If you like chess, it has it. Fahim is a well made chess drama as much as it is a human drama.

Don’t expect the cinematic brilliance of The Queen’s Gambit, but also don’t expect the relative melodrama of Pawn Sacrifice. Fahim is it’s own film.

In Conclusion:

Fahim (2019) is a heartwarming drama that explores some difficult themes, particularly those of immigration and the damage it may cause, especially to children. But, it is also an inspiring film about a chess prodigy that’s empathetic, and sometimes a little nerdy about the game.

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Have you watched Fahim (2019)? What did you think about this film? Let me know in the comments below, along with any film recommendations you’d like me to watch/review.

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