GeniusDiana: Josh Waitzkin & Bobby Fischer

While watching Searching for Bobby Fischer, it was clear that the young boy, Josh Waitzkin, was very talented in chess. His character showed that he had clear gifts above the average child. In fact, his talents for chess were beyond that of many adults. Josh Waitzkin has a natural talent for chess, and with hard work and dedication - he was able to expand upon this gift.

Throughout the movie, Josh is often referred to as a "young Bobby Fischer". Bobby Fischer is famous for being a chess prodigy. He was an American chess Grandmaster and a World Chess Champion. We never do meet Bobby Fischer in the movie, but we find out that he is "hiding" throughout the years, only to play chess matches on occasion.

I liked the way Josh was portrayed in the film. Although he has an obvious gift, that is well above his peers, he is not necessarily looked at as abnormal or weird. I feel that he was able to live a healthy lifestyle, because he expanded his interests beyond chess. Josh was able to tap into other hobbies and interests growing up. He was encouraged to play sports and spend time fishing.

In the middle of the movie, it was obvious that Josh was feeling an overwhelming amount of pressure to win and to be the best. His hobby and interest in chess was no longer just that - and his father became very intense on his son's success. As a cause of this pressure from his father, his coach, his peers, and himself - Josh forfeit his chance of winning at the NYS Elementary Championship. He also showed signs of struggles in the classroom. His teacher mentioned that his social skills were in danger, and feared that chess was becoming too prominent in his life. His father felt that the teacher needed to acknowledge his gift. I can understand both perspectives here; as Josh does need to focus on other things besides chess. I feel that he shouldn't soley focus on chess, because he will lose interest in other activities and other people outside of those he interacts with while competing. Josh also needs to continue to do well in school and learn about other things. His teacher, however, does need to be sympathetic to Josh's needs and tap into his interests in school. She must make sure that she does everything she can to not let him get bored, slip through the cracks, or lose his social skills. I do believe that Josh was perceived as well-rounded in the film, and not as a typical social outcast - as he easily could have been portrayed. He was a kind young boy who cared about other people's feelings. Josh finally found a happy medium between chess and life outside of chess. Josh went on to win championships, practice extremely hard, and ultimately do what he loves.