Phiona Mutesi, daughter of a widowed mother, grows up penniless and uneducated in Katwe, a slum of Kampala. Then she is introduced to chess and proves to be prodigiously talented at it. Could this be her way out of poverty?
Disney is behind this true story, an unusual sort of project for them to back. Lupita Nyong'o is Mum and David Oyelowo is coach Robert. Apart from them, the entire cast is untried Ugandan talent, with Madina Nalwanga shouldering the lion's share as Phiona. In her sole IMDB credit. she does this effortlessly - she has great screen presence.
Location work looks authentic and, while the story is not unfamiliar, it has the benefit of being true. The closing credits match the actors with their real-life counterparts and are enormously touching.
I enjoyed this a lot.
Disney is behind this true story, an unusual sort of project for them to back. Lupita Nyong'o is Mum and David Oyelowo is coach Robert. Apart from them, the entire cast is untried Ugandan talent, with Madina Nalwanga shouldering the lion's share as Phiona. In her sole IMDB credit. she does this effortlessly - she has great screen presence.
Location work looks authentic and, while the story is not unfamiliar, it has the benefit of being true. The closing credits match the actors with their real-life counterparts and are enormously touching.
I enjoyed this a lot.