Kline's first French flick a game without all its pieces

Chess is a fascinating game, but one that can move slowly for the spectator. Yet the pastime — or, for many, the obsession — has inspired some engaging movies: “The Luzhin Defense,” “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” “The Seventh Seal.” Unfortunately, “Queen to Play” cannot be added to that list. The French film stars Sandrine Bonnaire as Helene, a chambermaid at a luxury hotel in Corsica. Cleaning a room one day, she sees the occupants (Dominic Gould and a luminous Jennifer Beals) on the balcony playing chess. It’s an oddly erotic image: They graze fingers as the move the pieces, looking at each other with deep pleasure.