Based on the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess.
Who's Involved:
Release Date:
Friday, September 23, 2016 Limited
Friday, September 30, 2016 Nationwide
thematic elements, an accident scene and some suggestive material
Plot: What's the story about?
For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Nalwanga) and her family, life in the impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. Her mother, Harriet (Nyong’o), is fiercely determined to take care of her family and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende (Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, she is captivated. Chess requires a good deal of concentration, strategic thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and Katende hopes to empower youth with the game. Phiona is impressed by the intelligence and with the game requires and immediately shows potential. Recognizing Phiona’s natural aptitude for chess and the fighting spirit she’s inherited from her mother, Katende begins to mentor her, but Harriet is reluctant to provide any encouragement, not wanting to see her daughter disappointed. As Phiona begins to succeed in local chess competitions, Katende teaches her to read and write in order to pursue schooling. She quickly advances through the ranks in tournaments, but breaks away from her family to focus on her own life. Her mother eventually realizes that Phiona has a chance to excel and teams up with Katende to help her fulfill her extraordinary potential, escape a life of poverty and save her family.
official plot version from disney.com
4.33 / 5 stars (12 users)
Poll: Will you see Queen of Katwe?
Who stars in Queen of Katwe: Cast List
Lupita Nyong'o ... Harriet Mutesi
A Quiet Place: Day One, The Wild Robot
David Oyelowo ... Robert Katende
Interstellar, The Book of Clarence
Esther Tebandeke ... Sara Katende
Who's making Queen of Katwe: Crew List
A look at the Queen of Katwe behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Mira Nair last directed The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Amelia. The film's writer William Wheeler last wrote The Hoax and White Night.
Company
Production Companies
Watch Queen of Katwe Trailers & Videos
Production: What we know about Queen of Katwe?
Key Facts
- Based on the book by Tim Crothers.
Filming Timeline
- 2016 - August: The film was set to Completed status.
- 2016 - January: The film was set to Post-Production status.
- 2015 - August: The film was set to Production status.
Queen of Katwe Release Date: When was the film released?
Queen of Katwe was a Limited release in 2016 on Friday, September 23, 2016. There were 16 other movies released on the same date, including Storks, The Magnificent Seven and Beauty and the Beast.
As a Limited release, Queen of Katwe will only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets. Please check Fandango and Atom Tickets to see if the film is playing in your area.
Queen of Katwe DVD & Blu-ray Release Date: When was the film released?
Queen of Katwe was released on DVD & Blu-ray on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 .