Matthieu Carriere, who once starred in German director Volkor Schlondorff's breakthrough film Young Torless, turns director himself for Fool's Mate. Michael Marwitz plays a once-famous concert pianist and chess whiz. He compromises his talents by casting his lot with a group of self-destructive druggies and gamblers. Marwitz' new circle of friends effectively ruins his marriage to Victoria Tennant, an English architect. Fool's Mate makes no effort to cheer up its audience, but this sort of fare apparently is what the European film-festival circuit thrives on.

Cast

Victoria Tennant

Alice Gordon

Stuart Wilson

Nikos Mitradis

Mareike Carrière

Judy Miller

Peter Sattmann

Hausemann

Anatoli Karpov

Chess player

Mathieu Carrière

Harry Baer

Michael Marwitz

Lucas Tillman