If you imagine a movie based on the classic Tetris video game, you might expect a bright, fun, but ultimately rather shallow film. Yet, the new drama turns out to be a denser and more educational affair than expected.
Who Could Be Interested in This Movie?
ExpressVPN’s survey reveals that 79% of gamers play retro games regularly. While older gamers enjoy returning to the classics they enjoyed in the past, it’s also worth noting that younger gamers also enjoy retro games. Tetris was named alongside the likes of Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros as the most popular retro games, so it’s still relevant to modern audiences.
The early reviews of Tetris are generally positive, with many pointing out that the director has done well to turn a relatively dull-sounding story into something quite enjoyable. It’s easy to wonder who would be interested in seeing a movie about a retro game that’s heavy on history and intrigue but relatively light on action.
The film isn’t about the game itself but rather the struggle behind the scenes to distribute it. Therefore, it’s more of a historical story about tense negotiations behind the Iron Curtain and complex legal issues than gaming. It could appeal to anyone who enjoys Cold War-era spy movies as much as it appeals to gamers.
What Is Tetris About?
This 2023 movie was written by Noah Pink and directed by Jon S. Baird. It will be released on Apple+ TV at the end of March, but it has already had its world premiere at the SXSW Festival and has been widely reviewed by critics. So what is it all about?
Taron Egerton stars as Henk Rogers, the Dutch game designer who played a vital role in bringing this game to the broader public after he stumbled across it and considered it perfect.
Nikita Efremov plays the role of Alexey Pajitnov, a Soviet government employee who created the game. In this Variety movie review, Pink’s idea to focus on the legal battle as the Soviet empire collapses rather than the game itself is praised.
Rather than being based on the famously simple yet intriguing gameplay of the Tetris puzzle game, where players need to try and fit falling pieces together, this movie is all about the legal battle over the intellectual property right to Tetris. This look by Live Science at the game reveals how the story was first told in a book called Tetris: The Games People Play.
The Tetris game was a hit in the Soviet Union, but getting the rights to distribute it internationally turned into a saga. A large section of the film is dedicated to untangling the mystery of who owns the rights to the game. Many scenes are set in gloomy Soviet-era meeting rooms as the different parties negotiate for the chance to bring the game about falling blocks to the world. The KGB and secret tape recordings add to the feeling of this as a dense, historical drama. Tetris is an unexpected treat for fans of spy movies and those who love the know the backstory of their favorite games. It’s not the most exciting film release of the year, but it does an excellent job of giving us a taste of what it was like to negotiate for a video game during the Cold War.