Queen of Katwe
Queen of Katwe

Movie spotlight

Queen of Katwe

2016
Movie
124 min
English

A young girl overcomes her disadvantaged upbringing in the slums of Uganda to become a Chess master.

Insights

IMDb7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes94%
Metacritic78/100
Google Users93%
Director: Mira NairGenres: Biography, Drama, Sport

Plot Summary

Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from the slums of Katwe in Uganda, discovers an unlikely talent for chess. Mentored by a dedicated coach, she overcomes immense personal and environmental obstacles to compete in international chess tournaments, inspiring her family and community along the way. The film chronicles her journey from poverty to potential global recognition.

Critical Reception

Queen of Katwe received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for its uplifting story, strong performances (especially from Lupita Nyong'o and Madina Nalwanga), and Mira Nair's sensitive direction. Critics lauded its authenticity and its departure from typical underdog sports narratives, focusing instead on resilience and community.

What Reviewers Say

  • An inspiring and beautifully crafted true story about perseverance.

  • Lupita Nyong'o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga deliver powerful performances.

  • Praised for its authentic portrayal of Ugandan life and culture.

Google audience: Audiences overwhelmingly loved "Queen of Katwe" for its inspirational true story and the remarkable performances of its cast, particularly Lupita Nyong'o. Viewers found the film to be heartwarming, uplifting, and a positive representation of overcoming adversity.

Fun Fact

The film was shot entirely on location in Uganda, immersing the cast and crew in the environment where Phiona Mutesi's story unfolded.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

Excellent. <em>'Queen of Katwe'</em> is another Disney sports biopic, but one made with a difference - it doesn't hit the exact same notes as the studio usually does in this genre, which is a positive. The film is shot lovely, with a ter...

Reno

Reno

**A life changing game.** I am not a big fan of Mira Nair. But I like some of her films, particularly 'Amelia'. Because she usually prefers India and Indian subjects and cast as what she's. Outside that circle, she was not that successfu...

Gimly

Gimly

From a technical point of view, _Queen of Katwe_ is not a resounding success. There is bad audio, continuity errors, hammy dialogue, some very bizarre choices in cinematography and the occasional scene of poor acting. The story however (...