Queen Of Katwe

Catch a few movies focusing on a competitive game or sport and featuring a scrappy underdog and you'll start to see a few patterns forming. That predictability isn't necessarily a negative, though - a hero triumphing over adversity and overwhelming odds tends to be a winning formula, no matter how many times such a story is told, and when some new elements are added to a tried and true tale, especially one that is told with genuine conviction and good craftsmanship, the result is something quite special. That's the case with Queen Of Katwe, a touching and inspirational drama based on actual events.

Chess isn't usually the most cinematic of pursuits, but director Mira Nair's vibrant, intelligent and moving film about a teenage girl from the slums of Uganda's capital city who emerges as a most unlikely champion of the game makes it compelling. The chess aspect is a major part of Queen Of Katwe, but it's only one part of it - it's also a story of determination, direction and destiny.

Young Phiona Mutesi (newcomer Madina Nalwanga, whose unpolished style brings a lovely authenticity) lives with her single mother Harriet (Lupita Nyong'o, marvellous) and her three siblings in Katwe, one of the poorest areas of the Ugandan city of Kampala. It's a hand-to-mouth existence for the family, with Phiona too busy helping Harriet make a living and care for her little brothers to attend school or even learn to read. But when she happens upon an outreach program run by Robert (David Oyelowo, blending low-key charm and unstoppable drive), a missionary with a passion for chess, she discovers a knack for the game that soon sees her defeating experienced players.

Seeing a chance to expose the children of Katwe to greater opportunities and possibilities in life, Robert enters Phiona and her fellow "pioneers" in competitions against chess clubs around Uganda and the other countries of Africa. But it's Phiona who continues to show the most promise, eventually travelling overseas and competing against the world's best players in the hope of earning the coveted title of grandmaster.

It's a thrill accompanying Phiona on this journey, partially because Queen Of Katwe stacks the deck in her favour a little by initially pitting her against snobs who don't believe she or the other Katwe kids have what it takes, but mainly because her growing chess prowess is mirrored by a rise in confidence and self-esteem. At the same time, the film doesn't ignore the tough circumstances facing Phiona and her family, especially the hard-working Harriet, who takes pride and pleasure in her daughter's success while remaining practical about what role chess could play in the girl's future.

It's to Queen Of Katwe's credit, and Nair's superbly controlled direction, that the hardships facing the characters are realistically presented while the film maintains a tone of optimism and hope. On top of that, though, it's just a good story, one that hits all the familiar beats but does so with lively energy, earned pathos and good humour.