There's a not insignificant legacy of terrible movies about poor brown kids being taught out of poverty by godly white people like Sandra Bullock. Mira Nairâs Queen of Katwe isnât one of those movies. The lack of a white savior spares this Disney family film from being a schmaltzy embarrassment. Is that faint praise? Yeah, maybe.
Queen of Katweâs protagonistâa Ugandan tween named Phionaâdominates at chess with the help of a teacher, yes, but that teacher is a black, Ugandan one, Robert (David Oyelowo). Robert teaches the slum kids chess because these kids are fighters, and chess is a game for fighters. The scrappiest, fightiest of them all is Phiona (Madina Nalwanga), who quickly demonstrates that just because you canât read, that doesnât mean you canât slay all day on the chess board. Itâs based on a true story, BTW. Awesome!
What I liked about Queen of Katwe is something mainstream American audiences rarely see: an inspiring family film that doesnât try to gloss up the protagonistâs impoverished backstory. Also, Phionaâs rise to chess prodigy seems realistic in that obviously all precocious tweens are occasionally also asshole jerk tweens, and while Phionaâs mom (Lupita Nyongâo) is appropriately supportive, sheâs also like, âHey, chess doesnât pay the bills, so can you still work?â Humans donât have to be flawless to have interesting, valuable stories to tell. These are not magical black people. Theyâre just people.
Families looking for a not-cartoon movie to see together should know, however, that Queen of Katwe isnât a fast movie. Itâs not short, either. Itâs maybe meant for the children and families who have the patience for stuff like chess in the first place. So yeah, itâs a little boring, but if ânot racistâ and âfor smart kidsâ is your familyâs deal, Queen of Katwe might be a movie for you.