Queen of Katwe – A Tribute to Africa’s Women

Madina Nalwanga as chess phenom Phiona Mutesi with Lupita Nyong’o as her mother Harriet.

Director Mira Nair’s recent film, Queen of Katwe, is a riveting story adapted from a book about a young chess prodigy in Uganda, and not at all the bundle of clichés alluded to in many reviews.   Yes, the children are adorable, causing us to laugh many times, and the movie has a happy ending, as far as it goes; but there are no clichés in this true story where the daily struggle for food and drinking water predominates.

                   Video:    Queen of Katwe – Youtube Preview

With empathy and respect for her characters, Nair frames this tale to underscore the common values shared by cultures that are oceans apart.  Her film is a beautiful tribute to African women and all those on the continent who struggle to make a positive difference in the world.