Movie: Queen of Katwe

Queen of Katwe:  a feel good movie that takes place in Uganda.  Katwe is a slum area in the city of Kampala, Uganda’s capital, and is where the principal characters of this film reside.  Queen of Katwe is based on a true story.  At the end of the film, as the credits are rolling, the actual individuals are introduced next to the actors who played them.  The lead character is Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), a young girl who watches people playing chess and eventually becomes Uganda’s champion player.  We meet Mutesi when she is 10 years old.  The movie takes her through most of her teenage years.  This story is not confined to chess playing.  It also tells the tale of someone coming from poverty, and the physical and mental obstacles she must overcome as she reaches for her dreams.  The film focuses on Mutesi and her entire family.  The mother is played by Lupita Nyong’o who gives another Oscar caliber performance.  The only other named star is David Oyelowo, who plays Robert Katende, the individual who teaches the children chess.  In the telling of Katende’s story, we learn why a country such as Uganda struggles despite its many talented individuals.  There are a number of subplots running through this 124 minute film, which is directed by Mira Nar.  The screenplay, written by William Wheeler, is based upon the book by Tim Crothers.  This film shows Uganda’s poverty and its wealth and the myriad problems society and its individuals must overcome.  I highly recommend this film.