The Chess Player

In a small idyllic village in Corsica, the life of the quiet Hélène (Sandrine Bonnaire) consists of a series of similar days. She works as a maid in a hotel and appears to be happy with her marriage, her husband, and her fifteen-year-old daughter Lisa. Her modest life may seem somewhat monotonous, but it unfolds in an orderly manner of apparent contentment.

Everything changes when she observes a young, seductive couple playing chess on one of the hotel terraces while cleaning. Hélène is immediately drawn to this mysterious game, behind which lies an exciting world for her.

Her husband is completely against it; he finds his wife's new passion rather embarrassing and wants to dissuade her. The villagers are already gossiping about her. However, Hélène secretly continues to engage with it and finds a mentor and friend in the eccentric Dr. Kröger (Kevin Kline), whose household she keeps in order. After some initial hesitation, he even supports her idea of wanting to participate in tournaments. An adventure with unforeseen consequences begins for her. With her passion for the game, she soon risks her marriage and her good reputation. Her entire previous life begins to unravel...