Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A young girl overcomes her disadvantaged upbringing in the slums of Uganda to become a Chess master.
Queen of Katwe is elevated primarily by its performances, particularly Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo, who bring genuine depth and warmth to their roles. The cinematography is vibrant and distinctive, capturing the color and energy of Katwe with real artistry under Mira Nair's direction. The plot follows a fairly familiar underdog sports-biography arc, and while the setting and subject matter are refreshing, the narrative beats are somewhat predictable. The ending, while emotionally satisfying, resolves in a straightforward and expected manner consistent with the genre.