Over The Board

Inmate Eric receives an unexpected letter from none other than his own estranged twin brother, Ian – a chess player. After agreeing to meet, the two bond and reconcile their differences over particularly intense games of chess.

Emiliano Bolado, the film’s director, wastes no time in introducing us to its main framing device with the opening shot; a birds-eye perspective on an inmate’s chess game. Utilising chess sets a unique and fascinating structure for the story ahead, as the two play a game during their first conversation both literally and psychologically. It is the comparison to the mental game that they are playing with one another that may hook audiences into this story on first watch. The choice to shoot the film in black and white also draws a striking and ingenious parallel to the colours of the chess pieces.

The chemistry between our two central characters is palpable and deeply believable, which made a lot of sense when I came to discover that the actors are brothers in real life. A fact that makes one appreciate this as an artistic choice aiding in authenticity. Isaac Bell is the gruff inmate with a sadness behind his eyes who delivers a beautifully subdued performance from the offset, giving a masterfully subtle reaction to the inciting letter. In contrast Elijah Bell plays the soft hearted and supportive brother. Elijah manages to embody the character’s physicality perfectly and presents a fantastic inner life. The two brothers never seem to be trying to outshine one another, instead they give great generosity to their scene partner when the moment comes – taking a step back so they can take a step forward.

The dialogue however, leaves something to be desired. Viewers may feel that it doesn’t offer much in the way of emotional weight, and feels a tad generic – as if they have heard it in many films before. The piece's real strength lies in the silence between the words, especially at the beginning when the two are only just beginning to communicate. It is in these pauses that the sentimental heft of the story is conveyed, both through the acting and the cinematography by Elias Ginsberg.

Speaking of the cinematography, Ginsberg puts on an expert display of economic storytelling. The camera only moves when we need to see something, otherwise the cinematography makes the mature decision to be motionless, opting to focus on the performances in service of the story – giving it a quality-over-quantity that really benefits the piece.

The score by Andrew Bray shouldn’t go unnoted, as it really shines with this material. Somehow he has managed to turn a chess match into a high octane battle scene, not dissimilar to what you might find in a blockbuster, through his musical prowess alone. A watcher may find themselves many times sitting forward in their chair during the chess matches, with the soundtrack amplifying the drama of the moment.

In the final moments, the screen transitions from black and white into full colour in a heartwarming moment where the two brothers finally become true brothers. Ultimately ‘Over The Board’ is a wholesome story about two orphans who have grown up with very different lives, learning to find common ground and accepting each other – a story that the whole world could use right now.