Queen of Katwe

[projekktor id=’25523′]

Based on the book “The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl’s Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster”, Queen of Katwe is a drama film directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding). The film had its world premiere at TIFF this year and stars David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, and Madina Nalwanga.

Life in Uganda for 9-year-old Phiona Mutesi is a constant struggle. Her mother, Harriet, a proud and strong- willed woman, works hard to support her family, and while she loves and protects her children with a fierce compassion she is consumed by the daily grind and worries that she can never offer them the promise of a better life. Robert Katende offers that promise. Katende runs a chess program for Katwe children from a makeshift Agape Church utilizing the game as a platform to engage and sharpen their minds. When Phiona follows her brother Brian to the church one day, she observes Katende sharing the fundamentals of chess with children her own age. It is a moment that will seal her destiny.

“Before I met Robert and started playing chess, I had lost all hope,” says Mutesi, the subject of the film. “I was sad because I recently lost my dad and there was no money for school and I thought I would always be living on the streets. Since then, I have travelled to many different countries and met many wonderful people who I never expected to meet, which has helped restore my hope. I thank God that I met Robert and learned to play chess, because it is chess that made all these things possible.”

Queen of Katwe is rated PG.