Computer Chess

"Computer Chess" is an independent film released in 2013, directed by Andrew Bujalski. Set in the 1980s during the rise of computer technology, the movie focuses on a group of computer programmers and chess enthusiasts who gather at a hotel to compete in a computer chess tournament.

The film has a unique style, marked by a grainy black and white aesthetic that mirrors both the technological limitations and the general awkwardness of the era. The actors are mostly amateurs, who improvised many of their lines, creating a raw and authentic atmosphere that feels almost like a documentary.

The plot revolves around the various teams that participate in the tournament, each of whom has developed their own chess-playing computer program. There's the staff from a university, a group of countercultural dropouts, and a mysterious team from the Soviet Union that seems to be working on something much more complex than simple chess programming.

Despite the thematic focus on the game of chess, the film is as much about human relationships as it is about technology. There are romantic tensions between some of the players, and cultural clashes between the different teams with their contrasting values and approaches.

One of the intriguing aspects of the film is the way it deals with the limitations of computer technology at the time. In the early days of computing, artificial intelligence was still in its infancy, and most computer programs were relatively simple and straightforward. As a result, the chess gameplay in "Computer Chess" is often hilarious in its incompetence - the machines make ridiculous moves or get stuck in endless loops of indecision. But at the same time, the film hints at the potential for machines to surpass human intelligence, presenting a futuristic vision of technological progress with mixed feelings of hope and dread.

The character development in "Computer Chess" is subtle and unconventional. Rather than clear-cut protagonists and villains, the movie presents a group of flawed and idiosyncratic individuals, each with their own quirks and anxieties. The film takes a humanistic approach to the programmers, depicting them not as cold and calculating tech geniuses, but as struggling human beings trying to make sense of their world and their place in it.

The humor in the film is a mix of deadpan absurdity and cringe-inducing awkwardness. There are moments of genuine hilarity, such as when one of the computer programs develops a personality disorder and begins to act like a paranoid schizophrenic. But for the most part, the laughs come from the discomfort of watching the characters fumble through their social interactions and fail to connect with one another.

As the film progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to discern what is real and what is not. The line between reality and hallucination blurs, as the characters become more and more trapped in a world of their own making. The chess tournament itself becomes almost incidental, as the film shifts focus to the more abstract realm of human consciousness and the limits of perception.

Overall, "Computer Chess" is a unique and compelling film that defies easy categorization. It's a subtle satire of the technological age that remains relevant to today's obsession with artificial intelligence and the ethics of machine learning. But it's also a charming and humanistic portrait of a group of unconventional thinkers trying to find their place in a rapidly changing world. Whether you're interested in technology or human relationships, "Computer Chess" offers something fascinating and thought-provoking.