Walt Disney’s latest offering, Queen of Katwe, is an enchanting African story directed by Mira Nair, who describes it as a tale ‘that will squeeze your heart and then expand it like an accordion’. Shot in a slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, Queen of Katwe is a real-life story of the now 20-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), who dropped out of elementary school to help her single mother sell maize to make ends meet for herself and her siblings.
Phiona’s mother, Harriet (Lupita Nyong’o), is fiercely determined to take care of her family and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, she is captivated. Chess requires a great deal of concentration, strategic thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and Katende hopes to empower youth with the game. As Phiona begins to succeed in local chess competitions, Katende teaches her to read and write in order to pursue schooling. She quickly advances through the ranks in tournaments, but breaks away from her family to focus on her own life.
This is a beautiful story of hope and resilience told with great humour, but you will need tissues, as it’s also heartbreaking. In true Disney style, this is an optimistic and inspiring movie.
The movie premiered in Johannesburg on Wednesday 5 October and Lupita Nyong’o and Akin Omotoso (who plays Rwabushenyi President), among others, were in attendance. Queen of Katwe will start showing in cinemas in South Africa on 14 October 2016.
