Queen of Katwe Film Review – Underdog-done-good
This is an emotional Disney made film, a feel-good film based on true events (my favourite kind of film) about a Ugandan girl (Phiona) who becomes a chess prodigy.
The plot is a fairly straight-forward underdog-done-good type film, starts with Phiona arriving at the start of an important chess tournament, she shakes hands with her opponent and the camera immediately flashes back to her early days in the slums of Katwe.
The film handles some really difficult situations sensitively, Phiona is from an extremely poor family, who can barely afford to eat and live in a run-down shack with a broken tin roof. Phiona's life is particularly rough.
One day she and her brother discover an after school project run by 'The Sports Outreach Institute.' The other slum kids initially make fun of Phiona because she smells terrible, indicating she was from an even worse part of the slum. However, Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) see in her great potential to become an excellent chess player, and so her journey begins.
Big spoiler … Phiona plays chess more and wins more, her life gradually improves and eventually we see her buying her mother a house from the positive changes provided by her determination and love of chess.
The cast are almost entirely unknown, but I predict Oscar nominations are probably due for Madina Nalwanga & Lupita Nyong'o.
Highly recommended, a very touching and inspiring film. Stay for all the credits, as the actual people are presented with their corresponding actors and with a short summary statement.
8/10.
The plot is a fairly straight-forward underdog-done-good type film, starts with Phiona arriving at the start of an important chess tournament, she shakes hands with her opponent and the camera immediately flashes back to her early days in the slums of Katwe.
The film handles some really difficult situations sensitively, Phiona is from an extremely poor family, who can barely afford to eat and live in a run-down shack with a broken tin roof. Phiona's life is particularly rough.
One day she and her brother discover an after school project run by 'The Sports Outreach Institute.' The other slum kids initially make fun of Phiona because she smells terrible, indicating she was from an even worse part of the slum. However, Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) see in her great potential to become an excellent chess player, and so her journey begins.
Big spoiler … Phiona plays chess more and wins more, her life gradually improves and eventually we see her buying her mother a house from the positive changes provided by her determination and love of chess.
The cast are almost entirely unknown, but I predict Oscar nominations are probably due for Madina Nalwanga & Lupita Nyong'o.
Highly recommended, a very touching and inspiring film. Stay for all the credits, as the actual people are presented with their corresponding actors and with a short summary statement.
8/10.
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