Last year Mira Nair led a cast that included Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo and Sean Bobbitt, among others, to shoot the highly-acclaimed Queen of Katwe in Uganda.
Unlike previous movies shot in Uganda, this project is highly anticipated considering the Ugandan synergies around it. It is probably the first Hollywood film where a little-known Ugandan (Madina Nalwanga) leads a cast that includes an academy award winner in the supporting role and a multiple award-winning cinematographer that Bobbitt is, on the lens.
Also, the film does not dwell on Uganda's past, which has already inspired a number of pictures but, rather, celebrates the triumph of the people even Ugandans may look down at: the slum dwellers. The film will open in cinemas worldwide on September 30, while in Uganda, the premiere is slated for October 1 with a limited screening, and a general screening on October 7.
For select Ugandan media, a private screening was held last Thursday at Century Cinemax at Acacia mall. Queen of Katwe is a brilliant film. The fact that it is directed by Mira Nair who has such a close relationship with Uganda (her husband is celebrated Ugandan academician Mahmood Mamdani), and features Kenyan sensation Nyong'o and British-Nigerian Oyelowo in addition to a huge local cast, elevates the film from being just another gate-keeping Hollywood-Africa collaboration.
It follows the story of Phiona Mutesi, a girl from the slums of Katwe, rising from hardships to become a chess prodigy with a book out about her. With Mutesi brought to life by Nalwanga, a first-time actress, Queen of Katwe will be that film many Ugandans will relate to.
The film showcases the big number of people that dress up every morning and leave slums such as Katwe for the city centre in the quest for better lives. Wonderfully interwoven, the story helps us see Mutesi's life and how she meets chess after secretly following her brother Brian (Martin Kabaza) to the local sports ministry.
While there, Mutesi crosses paths with the ministry's head, Robert Katende (Oyelowo), who impacts her life greatly. The movie delves into slum life and survival; Mutesi was deliberately smelly because it was her way of keeping potential rapists away.
Nalwanga's performance was convincing, given the fact that she had to do many scenes with people as good as Nyong'o, Oyelowo or even Esther Tebandeke.
Nyong'o (who plays Harriet, Mutesi's mother) and Oyelowo are the film's biggest surprise; however, having worked on their body language, accents, as well as Luganda; they knew when to use a Luganda ad-lib and did it without misplacing the words.
It is refreshing to see the two not using the general "African" accent most Hollywood movies borrow. They were more believable. The film captures Uganda in a positive and Bobbit's cinematography is on point, as is the music.
This will go down as that Hollywood movie that understood who Ugandans are.
