Fahim (2019)

Directed by: Pierre-François Martin-Laval | 108 minutes | biography, comedy, drama | Actors: Assad Ahmed, Gérard Depardieu, Mizanur Rahaman, Isabelle Nanty, Sarah Touffic Othman-Schmitt, Victor Herroux, Tiago Toubi, Alexandre Naud, Pierre Gommé, Axel Keravec, Didier Flamand, Pierre-François Martin-Laval, Sabrina Uddin, Mougdo Mishti Das, Tapati Munsi

The Bangladeshi Fahim is already a star in chess at a young age. Effortlessly he manages to overpower older, more experienced opponents in the streets of Dhaka, earning some pocket money in the meantime. When his talent is noticed by the media, the family receives threatening letters. In an already troubled Bangladesh, Nura, Fahim’s father, fears for his safety. The family decides to flee to France. First Fahim leaves with his father; once they get work, shelter and asylum there, the rest of the family will follow.

‘Fahim’ is based on the true history of Fahim Mohammad, born in 2000. In 2008 he came to France, in 2012 he became national chess champion in his age category. His inspiring life story first resulted in a book and now a film. After all, we like to watch underdogs who manage to win despite all adversities.

This makes this feel-good film not very surprising. Of course, Fahim (Assad Ahmed) and Nura (Mizanur Rahaman) face difficulties once they land on French soil. It is also not surprising that Fahim has mastered the French language in no time, while his father, on the other hand, continues to enthusiastically insist that ‘Bon appétit’ means something like ‘Goodbye’. The relationship between the grumpy chess teacher Sylvain Charpentier (Gérard Depardieu) and Fahim also follows the beaten track. At first Sylvain doesn’t want to know anything about the bright kid, but Fahim is so disarming that even this old grumbler melts for his charms (and especially his talent).

Still, ‘Fahim’ is a pleasant place to sit. The chemistry between Depardieu and Assad Ahmed is perfectly fine and Isabelle Nanty is also a fine addition to the cast as secretary Mathilde. The way in which the procedure for applying for a residence permit works makes your mouth water. Director Martin-Laval offers the viewer a poignant look at the tent camps of illegal immigrants in the suburbs of Paris. There is a layer of social criticism in it, which you cannot ignore, but which is not really explored in depth. The only reason Fahim and his family are allowed to stay in France is because of his chess talent. Is that fair? New. But it is how it goes. As a chess film, the film probably falls short: the number of scenes devoted to the mind sport are too few and fragmentary to be satisfying. ‘Fahim’ is an average film about an exceptional story.