Story of Ugandan teen chess prodigy at Thame cinema

THIS Saturday, February 11, 8pm – QUEEN OF KATWE, PG certificate – Starring Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo, Madina Nalwanga.

Director Mira Nair presents the true story of Ugandan teen chess prodigy, Phiona Mutesi. Phiona lives in the slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, with her mother, sister and brothers. Her father is dead, and her young mother (Nyongo) struggles to keep the family safe and fed; life is perilous and the family live hand to mouth selling shards of corn on the street, never far from becoming homeless.

One day, Phiona follows her brother to a chess club run by a would-be engineer cum youth worker (David Oyelowo). It turns out that Phiona has a rare skill for the game, with a capacity to see eight moves ahead. Before long, she and her club are competing in a prestigious schools competition, and soon after she gets to represent her country in an Africa wide tournament. Her ultimate goal is a grandmaster competition in Russia. Along the way, she must negotiate multiple formidable obstacles: how to afford competition prices and the costs of travel; how to overcome her mother’s fierce protective resistance; how to walk away from the responsibilities of making money for the family and looking after her little brother; how to deal with the prospect of failure.

This is a classic tale of the underdog striving for success. But it feels rare and fresh not least because it is a true story and because its heroine is an adolescent woman, but also because it depicts at least some of the reality of lives and places that are seldom seen in Western narrative cinema. Told with great exuberance, humour, and brilliant performances Queen of Katwe will have you cheering as the credits roll. “A set of solid performances power this underdog flick to victory.” (Little White Lies.) “Could be the new Slumdog” (The Guardian.) Watch the trailer HERE

This Saturday 11th February 8pm – Thame Players Theatre – Film tickets are available on the door or online- Click HERE