Chess has a beauty which is as serene as art, it is as theoretical as science and it is as intriguing as any other widely watched sport is. However, the most important thing that chess has done is to bring out the best in a person. The film-‘Queen of Katwe’ directed by Mira Nair and produced by Disney Studios does exactly that.
It tells the life story of a prodigy Phiona Mutesi from Uganda, who defeats all odds and comes out victorious. Born in a country where girls were supposed to only get married and produce children, this young woman took to the chess pieces and changed the way society thought about girls of her age. With her results on the chessboard, she has proven to be a strong example of women empowerment in the world. She has represented her country in many Olympiads and has been a three-time Ugandan National Champion.
Phiona’s story is not just about getting to the top of the chess world. It is about how she overcame the trauma of losing her father and her older sister at a young age and despite these difficulties still managing to play the game that she loved. She started learning chess at the Sports Outreach Institute. And was awarded the Woman Candidate Master Title (WCM) in 2012 for her brilliant performance in that year’s Olympiad and became the first ever Ugandan to be awarded that title.
In a country where chess is not that popular and which faces poverty on a hard scale, a girl like Mutesi achieving this feat is a remarkable way to prove to the world that even in times of crisis those who really want to achieve success can do so with continuous hard work.
A must watch for all chess fans
The film showcases the entire story of the bright young girl and released in the United States on 30 September 2016. Mira Nair, the director of the film who is a world renowned director from India has told the story in a beautiful way. Having had success with films like Salaam Bombay, The Namesake and Monsoon Wedding, Mira Nair has left no stone unturned in this film. It is a must watch for all chess fans as it inspires you to work harder and give it your best shot even during hard times.
