An unlikely friendship

The story of an unlikely friendship between the notorious chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer imprisoned in a Japanese jail and his Icelandic bodyguard Saemi Rock Palsson who fought the wrath of the United States government to free his friend. A rock is a real friend you can depend on in times of trouble. Left to rot in a Japanese prison by the US authorities, the genius chess champion and fallen hero Bobby Fischer, knew there was only one man who could fit the bill and get him out of jail – his old friend Saemi Rock Palsson. But he hadn’t spoken to him in 20 years. Saemi Palsson – an Icelandic carpenter and former policeman who earned the nickname ‘Rock’ after he became Iceland’s top Rock ‘n’ Roll dancer – had been a bodyguard for Bobby Fischer at the 1972 World Chess Championship staged in Reykjavik. The legendary contest at the height of the Cold War between Brooklyn boy Fischer and Russian Boris Spassky saw Fischer defeat the Soviets and become not only the world champion but an all-American hero. However, the championship had been beset with problems due to Fischer’s growing paranoia and his outlandish demands. Standing by him every step of the way was Saemi Rock Palsson employed to act as Fischer’s bodyguard…

a film by
Friðrik Guðmundsson

editors
Dögg Mósesdóttir
Reynir Freyr Reynisson
Friðrik Guðmundsson

music by
Einar Arnaldur Melax
Guðlaugur Kristinn ‘Ottarrson
Óttar Proppe
Björk Guðmundsdóttir
Jón Ísólfsson

sound editor
Gunnar Arnason

Assistant directors
Reynir Freyr Reynisson
Dögg Mósesdóttir

cinematographer – producer – director
Friðrik Guðmundson