Nair doesn't attempt to go easy on the slum visuals here. While Mississipi Masala centered around an upper middle class Indian-Ugandan family, Queen of Katwe is set in the slums of Uganda. Mira Nair returns to Uganda once again, three decades after she made Mississipi Masala. It is an amazing story of real people, only lightly changed for film-making, well acted and compelling. That's why the whole thing is so satisfying. His sacrifices, his wife's sacrifices and his challenges providing for his family as he tries to help the children of Katwe is a movie unto itself. The story of Phiona's coach is as inspiring as her story. The movie doesn't settle for a trophy as the outcome, focusing on the impacts on Phiona and her family along the way. Of course, Phiona's story as a chess prodigy from the slums of Katwe, Uganda is harrowing, inspiring and insightful. The actress who portrays her depicts her strength, and also her limitations with integrity. Particularly compelling is the story of Phiona's mother who lost her husband and struggles to provide for four children by selling cooked maize in the market.
Here, wonderful actors depict real people struggling with the realities of their lives: single motherhood, overcoming poverty, feeling out of place, and the challenges of playing high level chess.
Queen of Katwe goes far beyond the usual cliché movie: underdog overcomes adversity to win championship.
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