The Inspiring Perspective of Chess
Chess. A duel among kings and queens. A game of war. A powerful tool of escapism. An opportunity to change your life. Queen of Katwe effortlessly balances these different lenses of the game, while conveying the remarkable story of a young girl Fiona (Madina Nalwanga) with a big dream. Wisely focusing on the chess prodigy rather than the saintly coach elevates the film, and as a result, Queen of Katwe will send tremors down the sports genre. As star David Oyelowo points out, it is “absolutely right that Fiona is center.” Oyelowo praised the perspective of Director Mira Nair, remarking that the film industry should never marginalize women voices, especially when it produces something so fantastic.
Perspective does greatly inform the creative choices within this film. Most of the child actors are from the town of Katwe, rather than pampered Hollywood wannabes. Oyelowo claimed that the children were “so unaffected” by the cameras and the set, resulting in an “energy coming off the screen [that] is real.” Many of the kids’ reactions feel honestly genuine and not forced or wooden. Furthermore, many of the children have their own moments to shine, holding their own with the immense screen talents of Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong’o.
Director Nair orchestrates this hometown narrative to perfection. Rather than choosing to romanticize this fantasy-like story, the film plays like an intimate tale that never loses sight of Katwe. Every big victory and trophy pales in comparison to Fiona’s harsh reality. The film doesn’t shy away from Fiona’s own struggles with ambition and glory. This element is emphasized by an impassioned speech by Lupita’s character, expressing her concern over her children becoming ghosts in their own community and outsiders in their dreamed lives.
Utilizing hardships outside of the game makes the chess duels have more depth and meaning. It’s not that Fiona is representing her country, but rather she is fighting for her life. Early on, the political stage between underprivileged towns and middle class cities enables the screenplay the opportunity to foreshadow bigger themes in a comical manner. Oyelowo excels at extolling a humorous parable that both motivates and teaches the young chess players. Throughout the course of the film, audiences will genuinely believe that a simple game of strategy can really inspire people and change the course of their lives.
In Lupita Nyong’o’s second studio live action film, she brings a ruthless integrity to an honorable mother who perseveres in the face of life’s challenges. At first, the character seems needlessly cruel, but as the movie progresses, audiences will empathize with the commendably strong woman. Opposite Lupita is Fiona’s coach, played by David Oyelowo. Oyelowo is one of the standouts in the film. His character embarks on his own compelling arc, learning to make sacrifices in order to find his true calling in life. Both veteran actors justifiably raise the gravitas and meaning of the film.
The real star of the film is Madina Nalwanga. She does a fantastic job of capturing Fiona’s many different emotional states in the film. Fiona starts as a morbidly curious student of the game morphing into a cerebral prodigy that can predict a number of moves ahead of her opponent. Along the way, she continually expresses self-doubt, which ultimately results in a regression, lashing out at her loved ones due to her failures. The movie effectively demonstrates the high and lows of the game, which have drastic consequences for the players in real-life.
In essence, Director Nair’s depiction of the game is one of the biggest strengths of the film. As the story progresses, chess morphs into an exciting battleground full of high stakes drama. The talent to elevate the mundane to the extraordinary is a rare skill that only a handful of directors possess. Watching the proficient prodigies fight for position in a game of counters had me on the edge of my seat. The chess scenes reminded me of classic Spielberg directing as one could draw comparisons with Bridge of Spies. Just as that film produced tension and anticipation in scenes devoid of “popcorn action,” Queen of Katwe makes the movement of a pawn as meaningful as the ascent of a Queen.
Queen of Katwe exemplifies powerful storytelling through a real-life story. Director Nair has produced a sincere love letter to the country of Uganda. Disney should be commended for its creative risks and stellar casting. This self-contained, inspiring story is a welcome reprieve from the spin-off and sequel franchises in Disney’s roster.
Score: 9/10
Let us know what you think of the film and its different perspective in the genre!!!
