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
Gregor Lämmle
Giovanna Mezzogiorno
Maria von Gall
Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Thomas von Gall
Thierry Lhermitte
Andreas Lazik
Claire Keim
Catherine Lamiel
Dominique Pinon
Henri Lafont
Gottfried John
Thomas von Gall - grandfather
Thomas Heinze
Joachim Görtz
Ken Duken
Jürgen Müller
Giorgio Pasotti
Michele
Stephen Moyer
David Quatermain
Rufus
Prof. Bergot
Marisa Leonie Bach
Louise
Didier Bourguignon
Lorry Driver
Sean Chapman
Larry Quatermain
Bruno Cécillon
Bertrand
Claude Duneton
Papa Allegre
Karl E. Landler
Soldier
Jean-Marie Frin
Shopkeeper
Philippe Julia
Soldier 1
Franck Libert
Soldier 2
Jean-Paul Muel
Mayor
Michel Voletti
Librarian