(2016). If you make smart moves you can stay away from danger, but you know any bad decision could be your last. "There are plenty of authentic Ugandan needle drop tracks in the film to set the scene so the score could concentrate more on the music story telling. Watch the documentary of Robert Katende, “A Fork, A Spoon and a Knight” directed by Mira Nair. Queen of Katwe was screened at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. [29] A soundtrack album was released on September 23 by Walt Disney Records. 2306 Bedford Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503-2701 Mail Us. Queen of Katwe (2016) Starring Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo, Madina Nalwanga | based on the book ' The Queen of Katwe ' by Tim Crothers Chess is a lot like my life. Phiona spends her days fetching water and selling maize to help her family until the day she meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a missionary who's also the chess team coach in Phiona's Ugandan neighborhood. The cinematography captures the true colors and life in a slum of Uganda, Africa. $22.99. Unfolds the poignant story of three women and their search for justice from the daily plight of sexual harassment in Egypt. A Ugandan girl’s life changes forever when she discovers she has an amazing … A brilliant but troubled New Zealand chess champion finds purpose by teaching underprivileged children about the rules of chess and life. Her world changes one day when she meets Robert Katende at a missionary program. Help us improve this page. [30], Queen of Katwe had its world premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10. Q&A. Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who appeared in the 2016 Disney film "Queen of Katwe," was 15. Living in Katwe, a slum in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle for 10-year-old Phiona, her mother Nakku Harriet and younger members of her family. Queen of Katwe takes this one step further, bringing the actual people onto the screen to stand side by side with the actors who played them, and saying where they are today. Wheeler believed that the film could fit within the Disney tradition of films about "underdog" sports stories, noting that: "we were trying to ... gently expand the idea of what a 'Disney film' could be. Curious, Phiona approaches and learns the game. "[14], Mira Nair met with Mutesi, her mother Harriet, and the chess group run by coach Robert Katende. The Queen Of Katwe She got a scholarship so she could go back to school. Check out our editors' picks for the movies and shows we're excited about this month, like Mortal Kombat, "Them," and Stowaway. Phiona is a pre-teen girl living in Katwe, a desperately poor slum neighborhood in Kampala, Uganda.Into this slum comes Robert Katende (Oyelowo), who works for a Catholic mission. Curious, Phiona approaches and learns the game. [15] Nair filmed a short high-concept and presented it to Disney, to alleviate the studio's concerns about the film being entirely set in Africa.[15]. [44], Queen of Katwe received positive reviews from critics, with David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong'o's performances receiving unanimous praise. The children in the film were brilliant and all the cast gave good performances. [2], The musical score for Queen of Katwe was composed by Alex Heffes. And so to go there and to have t… A big congrats to Mira Nair for a good film. Phiona leads the Uganda team at the Chess Olympiad in Russia, confident that she will succeed in becoming a Grand Master, securing the necessary finances to lift her family from poverty. She also helps care for her baby brother. Audiences to ‘A Suitable Boy,’ Says Mira Nair (Exclusive), Family Friendly Movie and TV Picks For Spring, IMDb Picks: Movies and TV Shows About Influential Women in History, Inspirational Women's History Sports Biopics, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Kate Hudson/David Oyelowo/De La Soul feat. Her coach, over the initial opposition of the local chess authorities, takes her and the team to a national school level tournament at a prestigious local school. More than one hundred Ugandans were hired as extras for the street scenes; eighty had no prior experience with cameras. A sports agent stages an unconventional recruitment strategy to get talented Indian cricket players to play Major League Baseball. Estelle. She becomes fascinated with the game and soon becomes a top player in the group under Katende's guidance. Waligwa starred in the 2016 Disney film "Queen of Katwe," a biographical film about Ugandan chess player Phiona Mutesi, who came from the slums to be one of the top players in the world. A Ugandan girl's life changes forever when she discovers she has an amazing talent for chess in this celebration of the human spirit. She becomes fascinated with it and soon becomes a top player in the group under Katende's guidance. Queen of Katwe confronts the uncomfortable possibility, feared by Phiona’s mother Harriet, that, by broadening her horizons and showing her … Disney presents QUEEN OF KATWE, a movie based on a vibrant true story starring Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo, and directed by Mira Nair. Her world changes one day when she meets Robert Katende at a missionary program. [24] Nair set up an acting boot camp to help prepare the children for their scenes. Now on Blu-ray, Digital HD & Disney Movies Anywhere: di.sn/60048GUNC E info@sportsoutreach.net. Directed by (1) Writing credits (2) Cast (73) Produced by (7) Music by (1) Cinematography by (1) Film Editing by (1) Casting By (1) Production Design by (1) Art Direction by (4) Set Decoration by (4) Costume Design by (1) Makeup Department (12) Queen of Katwe is a 2016 film from Walt Disney Pictures, directed by Mira Nair.It stars David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o, and Madina Nalwanga.. Queen of Katwe [11] Tendo Nagenda, Walt Disney Studios' senior creative executive, developed the project into production. Set during the Cold War, American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer finds himself caught between two superpowers and his own struggles as he challenges the Soviet Empire. Ex-felon, Eugene Brown, establishes a Chess Club for inner city teenagers in Washington, D.C. A stressed father, a bride-to-be with a secret, a smitten event planner, and relatives from around the world create much ado about the preparations for an arranged marriage in India. Director Mira Nair decided to adapt The Queen of the Katwebook into a film after making a documentary about the life of the man who trained Phiona Mutesi, Robert Katende. The website's critical consensus states: "Queen of Katwe is a feel-good movie of uncommon smarts and passion, and Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo's outstanding performances help elevate the film past its cliches. The story of King Seretse Khama of Botswana and how his loving but controversial marriage to a British white woman, Ruth Williams, put his kingdom into political and diplomatic turmoil. She also helps care for her baby brother. [15] The casting director found Madina Nalwanga in a community dance class. By the opening weekend, it earned $304,933 averaging $5,864 per screen. Many of … Starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o, and Madina Nalwanga, the film depicts the life of Phiona Mutesi, a girl living in Katwe, a slum of Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Disney was very open to wanting to tell an aspirational story about someone from someplace that is not at all familiar to Western audiences ... this could really fit into one of the things that they do very well – which is telling sports underdog stories and finding the ways the story naturally intersects with that genre of film. Mutesi attended premieres of the film in Toronto, Canada (September 10), Hollywood, California (September 20), and Kampala, Uganda (October 1). Some scenes were heartbreaking and moving. Blu-ray A green circle with a white checkmark in the center. A Ugandan girl sees her world rapidly change after being introduced to the game of chess. Her world changes one day when she meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) at a missionary program. The 15-year-old Ugandan dancer was cast as Phiona. It has beauty and barbarity side-by-side. QUEEN OF KATWE is a powerful drama about a pre-adolescent girl living in the slums of Uganda, who gets a new lease on life after becoming a master chess player. The film was entirely shot in Uganda and South Africa. QUEEN OF KATWE is a touching, uplifting story with strong Christian faith and positive moral messages that will inspire families and children everywhere. [38] Another screening was held at the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico on October 22. It is based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi (Nalwanga). Jim White moves his family after losing his last job as a football coach, and at his new school he turns seven disappointing students into one of the best cross-country teams in the region. Tim Crothers wrote The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster, which chronicled Phiona Mutesi's life. A prepubescent chess prodigy refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer. About this item. Visit Us. Was this review helpful to you? “Queen of Katwe” follows the journey of a girl from poor township in Uganda to becoming a champion chess player. P (434) 582-4707. [19][20] Nair said that finding an actress to play Phiona was the most difficult. The characters were really believable and the acting was excellent. She invited screenwriter William Wheeler to come to Kampala to conduct interviews with the principal figures as a foundation for a screenplay. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? DVD A green circle with a white checkmark in the center. 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