Tim's latest book The Queen of Katwe, news, upcoming appearances.
Life Story of The Queen of Katwe's Phiona.
The Inside Story Behind Disney's 'Radical' Queen of Katwe.
Uganda's Queen of Katwe star Nikita Pearl Waligwa dies aged 15.
In 'Queen of Katwe,' a Pawn Finds Her Crown Through.
Phiona Mutesi, 'Queen of Katwe,' Rises From Uganda Slums to.
After Achieving Chess Fame, 'Queen Of Katwe' Takes New Path.
"She worked extremely hard," co-star Lupita Nyong'o Ugandan Actress's Journey Mirrors That Of Her 'Queen Of Katwe Please, do yourself a favour and check out Queen of Katwe.Queen of Katwe was filmed in English, but that isn't Madina Nalwanga's first language. I do wish the film was 20 minutes longer in order to compensate for the obvious story jumps, but that is just a minor issue. Well-directed, well-acted, and inspiringly put together, Queen of Katwe is a terrific film from start to finish. That being said, this is far better than any of the recent B-movie true stories that Disney has produced in recent memory. I could tell that there were story elements that the writers chose to gloss over. I loved every second of this film, even though it does seem to skip over a few key moments. By the end of Queen of Katwe, I was in tears as to how well this film was executed. In the end, a film like this all comes down to whether or not it was effective. Queen of Katwe is fantastic for all of these reasons and more. After seeing the comparisons in the credits, they did a damn fine job in the casting department. I found myself engaged in every moment and the scenery felt as if I had been watching a documentary on these people. In her first ever English-speaking film, she is still able to capture the beautiful landscapes of Uganda, display the hardships of life, and although the film feels slightly polished, it's easily one of Disney's riskiest projects. This cast made the pacing go very, very quickly.ĭirected by Mira Nair, who is no stranger to filmmaking, but definitely that of American Cinema, directs with passion here. Queen of Katwe is a very powerful and satisfying story that is elevated even higher by the performances at hand. The way she is able to react to ceratin elements throughout the film, whether it is the environment around her or how she is supposed to act in certain institutions, her performances gleams off the screen. That being said, Madina Nalwanga, who portrays the character of Phiona, is absolutely break-out worthy. If you have yet to see Queen of Katwe or even hear about it, I highly recommend checking it out.ĭavid Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong'o are show stealers here, and while they may take the focus away from the central character, their times to shine are well worth it. The sad part is that a film like this doesn't attract a large audience and therefore failed at the box office. This is a very moving film that explores how hard some people have it in this world, but also how we can both be happy with everything and nothing at all times. promising her mother that he will be able to put her into school if she does well, he brings her into school competitions, which will eventually have her competing across the globe. Robert Katende, the town Futball (Soccer) coach, notices her skills in the game of Chess. Here is why I believe Queen of Katwe may just be the most overlooked film of 2016.ĭavid Oyelowo and Lupita Nyongo'of Katwe follows Phiona, a young girl in a family living without a home in Uganda. Sadly, nobody went out of their way to find a theatre playing it. Queen of Katwe on the other hand, may just be the best true story they have told to date. Although most of them are fluff for families to enjoy together, they've always had a certain charm. With films like Million Dollar Arm or Miracle, they have a knack for true stories as well. Aside from their famous products, I have always admired their secondary films each year. Disney has had their share of flops, but when it comes to film studios, they have been more than pleasing their audiences lately, with critics and audiences loving their incarnation of Star Wars or their live-action remakes in The Jungle Book, Cinderella, or the upcoming Beauty and the Beast, which will surely be a billion dollar box office winner.