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In one of the most memorable moments of the film, she licks gruel from the side of a mug-her eyes, somber and expressive, lending an authenticity to her performance that provides the film with a breath of fresh air. In particular, newcomer Madina Nalwanga, hand-picked by director Mira Nair herself from the slums of Uganda, manages to stand her ground against seasoned actors Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo.
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The cast’s extraordinary efforts are strong enough to overcome a screenplay that at times feels stilted, and the actors ultimately succeed in bringing their dynamic characters to life. It instead adds substance to otherwise prosaic characters by touching upon real, relevant problems in their lives, such as identity, death, class, inequality, and even, perhaps a bit surprisingly for a family movie, prostitution. Perhaps the film falls into saccharine territory one too many times, but it doesn’t surrender itself to convention. The nature of Phiona’s story forces the film into recycling stock characters audiences will recognize all too well-the underdog the earnest, good-willed coach the strict mother and the absentee father, to name a few. “Queen of Katwe” is an exquisitely shot, powerfully acted, and delicately, intelligently directed film that does justice to the inspiring story of its protagonist.Īt its core, “Queen of Katwe” is a story told countless times before. But phenomenal performances abound, and studied, rapt attention to detail from cast and crew alike allow the film to transcend its clichés and to eschew any trace of banality.
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Though certainly inspiring and remarkable, Phiona’s is a subdued story that, in lesser hands, could have very easily translated as insipid on screen. The premise of Disney’s latest offering, “Queen of Katwe,” fits this phenomenon to a T through its telling of the remarkable true story of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan woman who goes from selling maize in the slums of Katwe, Uganda, to becoming a national chess champion. It’s a reference to the rule in chess in which a pawn, considered dispensable and weak, can become a queen, the single most dominant piece in the game. “In chess, the small one can become the big one,” a young slum girl teaches wide-eyed protagonist Phiona (Madina Nalwanga).