English Chess Forum

For London-based forumites:-

The Queen of Katwe will be showing at Walthamstow Empire at 2pm on Saturday 15th October as part of the I Will Tell film festival.

Information from festival organisers follows:-



CHESS EVENT

The Free Chess in the Community will include chess masters running a simultaneous display throughout the afternoon, playing up to 10 boards each. Players at all levels are welcome. Students can get one to one training on how to play chess or could just join in the fun with the Giant Chess Set. We are keen to encourage people from all walks of life to play chess as a means of developing strategic thinking, planning ahead, discipline, patience, management of resources and critical thinking under pressure.

It is a precursor to a special preview of Disney’s Queen of Katwe, directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) a triumphant true story of a young Ugandan girl whose life is transformed by the game of chess. Here is a link to the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIIfiLtCrzM I attach a couple of images also.

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE only £8.50 Adults, £5.50 children.


SHORT SYNOPSIS:

Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo (SELMA) and newcomer Madina Nalwanga star in Disney’s vibrant true story.



LONG SYNOPSIS

For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Nalwanga) a young girl selling corn on the streets of rural Uganda, life in the impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. When she meets Robert Katende (Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, Phiona is captivated. Recognizing Phiona’s natural aptitude for chess and the fighting spirit she’s inherited from her mother, Harriet (Nyong’o), Katende begins to mentor her. But Harriet is torn between taking this chance to escape a life of poverty and protecting her daughter from being disappointed.



SPECIAL PREVIEW

The powerful film directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) will be released in UK cinemas at the end of October. See it first in this Special Preview screening from Disney in association with the I Will Tell Film Festival on Saturday 15 October. Inspiration for all the family.



REVIEWS

"An extraordinary cast and incandescent visual style."

"Educates and inspires with the help of striking cinematography"

"Authentic and unconventional"

“Not to be missed”

“David Oyelowo is perfectly cast and Academy award winner Lupita Nyong’o is fierce”

“A film that will make you stand up and cheer”

Bumping this as the film will be shown this coming Saturday.

Also to say, the current issue of BFI's Sight and Sound magazine includes a review of Queen of Katwe and an interview with David Oyelowo who is in the film.

There are also reviews of Morgan and a piece on Dada. Both of these articles include photographs of chess sets/somebody playing chess. The Dada one is Marcel Duchamp v Man Ray.

Together with the Queen of Katwe photo that makes three pictures of chess sets all of which are the right way around. A bit of a rarity for a non-chess publication

ITN at 10 had a considerable piece on the film this evening.
It was rainining in New York on 29 September so I went to see it. It is quite a good film with a fair amount of chess. e.g. there are two combinations played that all of you will recognise: smothered mate; the 3 pawns against 3 pawns promotion. The board is always the right way round.
It is being spoken of as a potential candidate for the Oscars.
Phiona Mutesi was born in 1996 in Ugandas. Her rating is 1628 and she is a Woman Candidate Master. That was gained by scoring 50% or more in the Women's Olympiad.
Of course it is a very heart-warmning film and tells a most uplifting story. Its showing in Britain provides an opportunity to promote chess, particularly among women.

I agree with Stewart. The film was on in four cinemas in Dublin last week and I went to see it with my wife. We both thought it was excellent and inspiring, with some fine acting. No knowledge of chess is required to enjoy the movie.
The actors playing her mother and her chess coach were particularly excellent.
It was filmed partly in Uganda and partly in South Africa. At the end the real Phiona Mutesi appears with the actress playing her.
There are several categories in which it might feature in Oscars short-lists.
The most surprising thing perhaps is that such a good live-action picture could emanate from Disney!

I've seen this film, and it really is excellent. Well worth seeing if you can.

On chess films (actually a documentary), are there any plans for groups of chess players to go and see the Magnus documentary-film?

https://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/magnus-2016

(Maybe a new thread is needed for that?)