Storyville - Season 15 - Eps 29: Bobby Fischer: Genius and Madman

2011-11-3085 min⭐ 7.6/10

Considered by many to be the world's greatest chess player, Bobby Fischer personified the link between genius and madness. His trajectory propelled him from child prodigy to world chess champion at the age of 29 and then into a nosedive of delusions and paranoia. Fischer was a recluse for decades before resurfacing for a bizarre final chapter as a fugitive. Veteran filmmaker Liz Garbus's documentary exposes the disturbingly high price Fischer paid to achieve his legendary success and the resulting toll it took on his psyche. Rare archival footage and insightful interviews with those closest to him expand this captivating story of a mastermind's tumultuous rise and precipitous fall.

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About Storyville

Storyville

Title: Storyville

First Air Date: 1997-11-15

Last Air Date: 2025-07-01

Status: Returning Series

Rating: 7.6/10 (from 7 votes)

Language: EN

Seasons: 30

Total Episodes: 684

Network: BBC Four BBC Two

Genres: Documentary

Production Companies: BBC Four

Synopsis

Showcasing the best in international documentaries, Storyville has developed an enviable reputation since its inception more than a decade ago. Screening over 340 films, from some 70 different countries, the strand has garnered a staggering array of awards: five Oscars, 15 Griersons, three Peabodys and two International Emmys. In true, unique, Storyville style, the new series promises to deliver the strand's usual eclectic mix of compelling stories from across the globe.

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