Disney is on a roll with inspirational films such as Miracle, The Rookie and recently, McFarland, USA. What the filmmakers and writers do is 1) respect the characters and the material as the story would take off and not make it as overbearing. The true story has to be organized but with some emotional impact surrounding the story. 2) They also translate the story into a remarkable sports film and even though you could treat it as a sports movie, people would argue it is not a sports movie. But, I think of chess as a cerebral sports movie as that sport trains your mind harder than ever because it is like a brainy battle board on a chess board. It is a phenomenal product of feel-good triumph that its performances and environment upgrade the movie beyond its formulaic points.
Phiona Mutes (Madina Nalwanga) is a young Ugandan girl who lives in an impoverished slums of Katwe in which she makes her ends meet by selling corn and other vegetables rather than going into school. Her mother, Nakku (Lupita N'yongo) is widowed as she tries to financially stabilize her family with great spirits but also harsh realities. Also, she works tirelessly to sell vegetables to keep a good roof over their heads.
As Phiona is one her way back home, she comes across an after-school group and she meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a former soccer player turned missionary who teaches chess. Katende gives rooting and inspirational speeches to further the youth's minds especially's Phiona's. Phiona is taught not solely by him but also his wife with learning how to read and also to think on your own and solve problems in chess and also in real life. Phiona begins to understand that life is not all sunshine and rainbows as she is living in a place where there is not much hope.
This movie was a breath of fresh air as it focuses on the same thing that McFarland, USA did as it is focused on a different territory that feels as isolated from the world but a team or a person wants to make a difference for themselves. But, even though has those elements, the story felt more personal than that film because Disney reaches to some difficult moments that are ambitious. There is a sad moment in which N'yongo's character is so poor, scared and weak that she cannot afford to pay the hospital bills in order for her son to be healthy. She had to remove the IV and take him out of the hospital.
Lupita N'yongo gives a terrific performance and I have no idea why many studios give her more roles after her excellent Oscar-winning performance in 12 Years a Slave. She plays a weak mother but also who is ferocious as she questions Phiona's activities in chess as she thinks initially as it is a gambling sport. David Oyelowo is quite good as the chess teacher as he teaches Phiona mostly everything to know about chess. I was mostly impressed by Madina Nalwanga's work as a distressed person that showcases a range of sadness to happiness in almost a minute when her place is about as unpredictable as it could be.
Director Mira Nair takes a rather un-ensconced world and transcend it into one of the most inspirational movies of the year. There is no predictable element such as bullying in a competition as it will be silly. Even though it is penalized for being a bit cliche at parts, this is a movie taken on in a different territory that many people will want to forget but will never forget thanks to three great performances and a heartwarming story.
***1/2
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