Now here's a strange match indeed. Kevin Macdonald, who made the excellent documentary One Day in September and then the film The Last King of Scotland (Filmstalker review), has signed up to direct a film called Bobby Fischer Goes to War.

The film is about the chess playing legend who beat Boris Spassky in the World Chess Championship in 1972. Okay so you're getting turned off already, chess, doesn't sound that interesting. However hold up, there is much more to this story.

The chess battle took place when Bobby Fischer was a mere twenty nine, having reached the status of grandmaster at a mere fifteen he was already somewhat of a legend in his own teens! The match was not just about two chess players though as it took place during the height of the Cold War and this represented a match between America and Russia.

The matches, according to Variety as I was only two at the time, were held in Reykjavik and were covered by the media like some huge sporting event, mainly for these political posturing reasons.

It'll be interesting to find out exactly what this story is going to cover in his life, because in later years Fischer became an outspoken man who was very anti-Semitic. The focus of the film isn't going to be his whole life though and just this match, the pinnacle of his career and a symbol for much more than just chess. Whatever the case, Kevin Macdonald sure is a strong director to take up the challenge.