See ‘Queen of Katwe’

IT’S a great month for true stories set in Africa as Disney’s ‘The Queen of Katwe’ (2016) screens alongside ‘Noem My Skollie’ (2016) in cinema’s across southern Africa.

Based on the book based on the real life story of Phioni Mutesi, ‘Queen of Katwe’ tells the incredible story of a young chess prodigy growing up in a slum called Katwe in the Ugandan capital of Kampala.

Starring Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo as the chess star’s mother and coach and introducing the remarkable Madina Nalwangwa as Phioni, the film navigates through familiar sports film arcs elevated by wonderful performances directed by Mira Nair.

Beautifully shot, often joyful without descending into the realms of poverty porn yet candid in its depiction of destitution, ‘Queen of Katwe’ highlights the reality of growing up in a situation where hopes and dreams are often crushed under the weight of a reality that includes the lack of funds for basic schooling.

As heartwarming as it is tear-jerking, the film, while ultimately feel-good, also imparts sobering lessons about defying stereotypes of gender, poverty and a lack of traditional education. Lessons made all the more valuable as such crippling odds were defied in reality.

An underdog story following a young girl’s trajectory from shantytown hero to dream achiever on a world stage, ‘Queen of Katwe’ employs plenty of heart and equal soul to prove that, in life as in chess, “the little one can become the big one”.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram

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