This film is based on
the true story of a ten-year-old Ugandan girl with a background of poverty and
living in a slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda. Phiona Mutesi lives with her mother Nakku Harriet, her older
sister and two younger brothers.
Their father has died and none of the children can afford to go to
school. Phiona hauls water every
day for the needs of the family and she sells maize on the streets. Phiona and her brother Mugabi Brian
discover a missionary program in her neighborhood. They can get a cup or porridge and learn how to play chess. The teacher is Robert Katende and he is
waiting for an opening for an engineering job.
I thought this film
was good and very real. Chess is a
game that cuts across issues of class, level of education and amount of
income. Children that are very
poor and looked down on by society can overcome with their talent. Phiona’s mother is constantly watching out
for her children, she doesn’t take any nonsense and she wants the best for
them. Everyone in the family
suffers because of he loss of the husband/father. 4* (I really liked this movie)
124
min, Bio directed by Mira Nair with Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo, Lupita
Nyong’o, Martin Kabanza, Taryn Kyaze, Ivan Jacobo, Nicolas Levesque, Ronald
Ssemaganda, Ethan Nazario Lubega, Nikita Waligwa, Edgar Kanyike, Esther
Tebandeke, Hope Katende.
Note: Imdb 7.3 out of 10, 93% critic 87%
audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3* out of 5*, Amazon Video 4.8* out of
5* with 124 reviews, Amazon DVD 4.6* out of 5* with 60 reviews
Special
Note: This movie was filmed in
both Uganda and South Africa. The
actual people from the story are shown at the end along with the actor playing the
role. Director Mira Nair
previously made a documentary about the life of Robert Katende. Ugandan fashion model Sylvia Owori bought a role as an extra
at an auction raising money for Maisha Film Labs. Another prize was a 12 Years a Slave signed by Lupita
Nyon’o.
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