Fahim Mohammad, a Bangladeshi immigrant, becomes a world junior chess champion in France.
Acting
Assad Ahmed carries the whole film at age 11.
Production
Real Fahim coached chess moves on set daily.
Writing
Depardieu's grumpy coach arc hits every beat.
Director
Pierre-François Martin-Laval
Assad Ahmed
Fahim Mohammad
Gérard Depardieu
Sylvain Charpentier
Isabelle Nanty
Mathilde
Minazur Rahaman
Nura
Pierre Gommé
Eliot
Sarah Touffic Othman-Schmitt
Luna
Axel Keravec
Dufard
Didier Flamand
Fressin
Pierre-François Martin-Laval
Peroni
Emmanuel Ménard
François Fillon
Tapati Munshi
Fahim's grandmother
Machita Daly
Aïssatou
Mylène Wagram
Madame Ganivet
Eléonore Gurrey
OFPRA employee
Marianne Fabbro
Luna's mother
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real Fahim Mohammad appears briefly as a tournament spectator—you'll miss him if you blink.
The film sparked controversy in France for softening actual immigration hardships; real Fahim's family faced deportation twice after his win.
FR
