Queen of Katwe: Seems like every Disney movie hit big this year—every movie, that is, but Queen of Katwe. This under-the-radar charmer made less than $9 million during its theatrical run—probably less than Finding Dory made in its first 30 minutes. Too bad, because Queen is a film worth seeing. Madina Nalwanga plays Phiona Mutesi, a girl from Uganda’s poorest streets who becomes a teenage chess champion and a national hero. While surely inspiring, Queen is more than just feel-good pap: Selma’s David Oyelowo and Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o serve as supporting players to Nalwanga’s Phiona, and Disney keeps the slums of Katwe free of even a hint of pixie dust. There’s also a beautiful, subtle undercurrent of faith that runs through the whole film—one suggests that God was watching over Phiona even in her darkest, poorest moments.
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