By Travis Johnson
“Chess as metaphor for life” is a motif that crops up in cinema fairly regularly – look at ‘hood drama Fresh or the NZ biopic, Dark Horse – but the characters and setting of Disney’s upcoming Queen of Katwe make it stand out from the pack.
Based on a true story, it tells the story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), who rose from crushing poverty to compete at the World Chess Olympiad. With David Oyewolo and Nupita Nyong’o in support and Mira Nair (Mississippi Masala, Monsoon Wedding) directing, this promises to be worth a look.
