Hey guys! If there is a movie y’all must see this weekend, it is Queen of Katwe. What can I say; it makes for an incredible cinema time! It’s the kind the film that both entertains and inspires you to reach for the highest heights and accomplish the biggest dreams. And one more thing, it is exactly the kind of stuff that fascinates teenagers- the story of a typical teenager coming of age…
Imagine a little girl living in a dirty Ugandan slum. She has a big dream but there are so many obstacles she must surpass in order to accomplish those dreams. That girl is Phiona Mutesi the main character of this amazing film produced by Disney. What more can I say…the film is about Black people and revolves on true life events involving chess. For a detailed review, I’ve done the honours of stealing from Globalnews.ca. Lolz.
Enjoy below, please!
It’s tough to imagine a movie about chess being emotionally resonant, but somehow Disney’s Queen of Katwe manages to deliver.
ARE YOU SURE IT’S NOT BORING?
It’s not. You’re not sitting down to watch a sequence of chess games. There are multiple side plots, and don’t forget these are children playing chess, which makes the movie inherently more fun. Kids still yell out, kids still get emotional when they win or lose, so chess is more of a game than a serious sport in Queen of Katwe, at least at the beginning.
DO I HAVE TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CHESS?
Nope. In fact, knowing more about chess might be infuriating, because the camera so infrequently pans to the chessboard it’s tough to discern the moves and strategies. If you’re familiar with the basic powers of each chess piece, you should be good to go. And even if you aren’t, it’s not going to make you want to stop watching the movie.
HOW ARE THE CHILD ACTORS?
Disney and director Mira Nair did a fantastic job casting the kids of the movie. They’re charming, funny and of course cute, often stealing scenes from Nyong’o and Oyelowo. In some other films with child actors, it becomes tedious and sometimes obnoxious to watch the same kids over and over for two hours. That problem never arises in Queen of Katwe — there’s something appealing about each of the kids and their interactions with Phiona.
Interesting fact: some of the kids, including Nalwanga, are from Uganda, and before this film, had never seen a movie on the big screen ever.
OK, SO IT’S AUTHENTIC IN TERMS OF CASTING. BUT WAS IT SHOT IN UGANDA OR IN SOME STUDIO?
Nair is always seeking the most authentic approach to her films, and Queen of Katweis no exception. Yes, much of the scenes you see in the slums of Katwe are actually shot there, along with some time in South Africa. Nyong’o has said in many interviews that the shooting location helped her get into her role, and at times she would look around on-set and really feel what it must have been like to live there.
SO WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
Queen of Katwe is a heartwarming, feel-good film, and the true-story element really adds another dimension to the movie. Don’t forget that this is a Disney sports film, so of course it’s slightly sanitized, but to think that a young girl rose out of the Ugandan slums to reach worldwide fame is nothing short of astonishing.
Okay so I’m back. Did you enjoy the review? Would you be seeing the film this weekend on the Monday during the Independence Day celebrations. You definitely should. Queen of Katwe’ starts showing in theatres on Sept. 30.
Have fun, guys.
Best Regards!
