Hoping to entrap Maria von Gall, who runs a courageous underground railroad for Jews in France, the Nazis kidnap her son Thomas, a brilliant 11-year-old chess master. An exchange arrangement goes awry and he sees her die in a hail of bullets; but he is rescued by his American father, whom he has never met before, and who plans to flee with him to Spain. However, Queen Maria had solemnly entrusted her little pawn Thomas with a precious secret and a terrifying mission, and it was time for him to move. A pawn may become an important piece by slowly, quietly advancing all the way through the enemy's ranks. Or a pawn may die trying. Retreat is what a pawn can never do.
Klaus Maria Brandauer
as Gregor Lämmle
Giovanna Mezzogiorno
as Maria von Gall
Thomas Brodie-Sangster
as Thomas von Gall
Thierry Lhermitte
as Andreas Lazik
Claire Keim
as Catherine Lamiel
Dominique Pinon
as Henri Lafont
Gottfried John
as Thomas von Gall - grandfather
Thomas Heinze
as Joachim Görtz
Ken Duken
as Jürgen Müller
Giorgio Pasotti
as Michele
Stephen Moyer
as David Quatermain
Cedric Brelet von Sydow
as Saverio
