Books to Read Before Their Fall Movie Releases
2. The Queen of Katwe (September 23rd)
(Based on the book The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl’s Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster by Tim Crothers)
What: The Queen of Katwe is a true story about Phinoa Mutesi (newcomer Madina Nalwanga), a teenager in Uganda who became one of the best chess players in the world. She uses the game to escape the poverty of her everyday life and travels the world to compete in matches, hoping to one day become a Grandmaster, the highest ranking in chess.
Why We’re Excited: This Disney movie is sure to be uplifting, in the start of what is usually a very bleak fall as we head into awards season. With a cast that features Lupita Nyong’o as Mutsei’s mother Harriet and David Oyelowo as Robert Katende, the man who teaches her chess, the cast already shines. The Queen of Katwe is being directed by female director Mira Nair, known for films such as The Namesake and Vanity Fair (also based on books). Fun fact: Nyong’o was Nair’s intern on The Namesake and was the director’s only choice for the role of Harriet.
Hopefully Queen of Katwe will be a film that, like Akeelah and the Bee, inspires young girls (and boys) to become interested in academic pursuits they never considered before.
Next: Peculiar children unite