The trailer for Mira Nair’s highly anticipated “Queen of Katwe” has finally dropped, and the clip is introduced with an inspirational quotation that beautifully captures what follows: “The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them.”
We meet Phiona Mutesi (newcomer Madina Nalwanga), an impoverished girl living in a slum. Phiona has lofty aspirations, but her mom (Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years A Slave”) discourages her daughter from setting her sights too high, for she fears that dreaming big will lead to disappointment.
Phiona stumbles upon a chess teacher (David Oyelowo, “Selma”) who changes her outlook on life — and consequently, the trajectory of her life. As one of her fellow pupils tells her, “In chess, the small one can become the big one.” Learning the game empowers Phiona as a person, and as a player, it just so happens that she’s a prodigy. It’s not long before she’s defying expectations and winning tournaments.
Check out the emotional trailer to see how Phiona takes down condescending opponents and overcomes her own self-doubt to become the Queen of Katwe.
“Queen of Katwe” hits theaters September 23. The film is based on a true story.
