Phiona’s success, and the support of her community, allow her to attend school and pursue Chess Master status.
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Phiona and her chess club, the Pioneers, rack up a string of titles, from defeating private school kids at a local competition to a national, then international, stage. She discovers chess at a neighborhood sports outreach program run by coach Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), and quickly displays a natural aptitude for the game. Phiona (newcomer Madina Nalwanga) lives with her mother (Lupita Nyong’o) and her three siblings in the slums of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda.
Queen of katwe cast movie#
Instead, the movie is full of compassionate, strong characters of color working to create better lives for each other in their own community. There are no high-powered white professionals seeking redemption, or tortured first-worlders looking to “find themselves” in an impoverished country. Nair’s tale of real life Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi involves no well-meaning white aid workers. But as fun and inspiring as movies like The Mighty Ducks or Cool Runnings can be, these movies often suffer from “white savior” syndrome, in which minority characters are led to glory and increased self-esteem by a more educated and privileged white person.ĭirector Mira Nair’s new film Queen of Katwe strongly follows the tried-and-true underdog formula, but with one crucial, refreshing difference: There’s not a white face in sight.
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It’s rewarding to watch people overcome adversity and school their opponents through sheer determination, chutzpah and teamwork. Rooting for scrappy characters to rise to the top makes great entertainment. Like many people, I am a fan of underdog sports movies - even if I’m not a fan of watching actual sports.