Biographical against-the-odds dramas can often suffer from being clichéd, but Queen of Katwe manages to be truly life-affirming and inspirational without falling into over-sentimentality.
It tells the true-life story of chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi, a young girl growing up in the slum of Katwe in Uganda's capital city Kampala, and it's a classic triumph-of-the-underdog tale that should melt even the iciest of hearts.
Newcomer Madina Nalwanga makes an impressive acting debut as Phiona, and more than holds her own against her acclaimed Hollywood co-stars Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo, who play the two main forces in her character's life.
Phiona's father died a few years earlier and her mother Harriet - a tough-as-nails, no-nonsense woman played with subtlety and grace by Nyong'o - is struggling to get by as a single parent. She and her children sell maize in the local market to scrape together enough money to eat and pay the rent, but it's a hand-to-mouth existence that is frequently threatened.
Phiona's life is turned on its head when she meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) at a missionary programme where he teaches the slum children how to play chess, as well as giving them free porridge.
Despite a rocky start when she is ridiculed by the other students, Phiona stays to be coached by Robert, and quickly shows herself to have an uncanny aptitude for the game.
Under Robert's tutelage, Phiona advances in chess at an impressive rate, but her success and achievements are tempered by the harsh realities of poverty and her struggle with identity and her place in the world.
The story is beautifully brought to life by director Mira Nair, drenching the slums of Katwe in colour and bringing a sense of exuberance to the proceedings.
In a clever move, Phiona's fellow young chess players are played by local children from the area, and they inject all their scenes with an indomitable spirit, particularly her brother Brian (Martin Kabanza) and the tiny chess champion Benjamin (Ethan Nazario Lubega).
Queen of Katwe is notable not only for being an utterly gripping story about playing chess, which can be decidedly uncinematic; but also for being joyfully uplifting, without ever feeling forced.
Sarah McIntyre
