AllMovie

This biopic of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) traces her journey from the Kampala slum of Katwe, where she is forced to abandon her formal schooling at the age of nine, to the upper echelons of the chess world after she develops an interest in the game at a youth-outreach program run by Robert Katende (David Oyelowo). Lupita Nyong'o co-stars as Mutesi's mother, who worries that her daughter's dreams of becoming a chess champion are a frivolous distraction from real life. Produced as a joint venture between Disney and ESPN Films, Queen of Katwe was directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding), and was adapted from a nonfiction book by sportswriter Tim Crothers, who became acquainted with Mutesi's story while on assignment for ESPN.