Film Review: Queen of Katwe

Underdog true stories can make great cinema. But they can also bring out the cynic in both director and viewer, as the filmmaker substitutes sentimentality for emotion, and the audience resists.

But when a movie is made with as much passion and empathy as Mira Nair’s Queen of Katwe there is only one possible response. Forgive the occasional cliché, feel that snarky little heart melt, and let your flowing tears season your popcorn. Nair’s film is based on the true story of Phiona Mutsei (newcomer Madina Nalwanga), who lives in a poverty-stricken Ugandan township with her three siblings and widowed mother (Lupita Nyong’o). Always struggling to find money and food, Phiona is distracted – not saved – from the brutal realities of her life by an unlikely hobby: chess. Under the guidance of a witty and inspiring coach Robert (David Oyelowo), she enters an elite tournament.

Nalwanga puts in a beautiful performance as an uneducated girl encouraged to use her mind and feel empowered – even if it is only in one arena. Nair never underplays the systematic nature of oppression, nor implies that people can live on hope alone. Rather she shows the comfort that hope can bring to an individual and a nation.

The authenticity of the film is what makes it. Nair’s previous work in Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake all demonstrated a respect for – and an immersion in – her characters’ cultures, and Queen Of Katwe is no different.

Nair not only shot the film on location in Uganda, but ensured that every aspect of it drips with authenticity. Cinematographer Sean Bobbit captures the arid beauty and turmoil of the country’s physical and political landscape, while Mobolaji Dawodu’s beautiful costumes evoke the local cultural traditions, as well as the personalities of the characters. It’s brisk pace is punctuated by a rhythmic Afro-beat soundtrack, featuring Ugandan artists such as Eddy Kenzo and Bobby Wine, who will have you dancing as well as welling up. A must-see...