SC-S28/W2-Movie Highlights | Voices Unheard (Queen of Katwe – 2016)

Queen of Katwe is a strong and touching film that was produced in 2016. It narrates the actual tale of a young girl, Phiona Mutesi, who lived in the Katwe, one of the largest slums in Uganda. She finds the game of chess and her life takes a different twist. She has hope, strength, and a new identity through this game.

The reason why this movie is ideal to include in the theme Voices Unheard is because it pays attention to the people who do not have their struggles and dreams acknowledged. The movie transports us into the world of a young woman who begins her life with nothing, but she goes up to the position she never expected to be by means of talent, support, and determination.

The film is not a mere chronicle of the life of Phiona but it is an eye opener of the life people endure in places that nobody ever mentions in society. It narrates the poverty, the struggles, the love, the unity and the dreams in Katwe in a very straightforward manner. I was moved by the story since it teaches us that greatness is not limited to any place.

However, in the most abandoned and destitute locations, one can find individuals who have big dreams, strong minds, and powerful stories. The viewing of Queen of Katwe made me open my eyes to learn more about what several marginalized groups experience in their daily lives.

What new perspective or culture did this movie introduce you to?

The film exposed me to the Ugandan lifestyle particularly the slum society of Katwe. My experience before this film had not helped me to take time and learn how individuals who live in such settings live, survive and help each other.

The film exposes the harsh situation: families reside in small apartments, do not have enough finances to provide food to children, and have to work long shifts only to earn meager income. However, in such difficult circumstances, even the movie emphasizes the strength of the spirit of community.

I was informed regarding the value of familial relationships in the Ugandan society. Such a strong example is the mother of Phiona Harriet. She provides them with a good lesson and values such as honesty, respect and hard work even though she does not possess anything but she defends her kids and gives them these lessons.

I also had an opportunity of observing how the community joins and celebrates, the way in which they prepare their local meals, and encourage one another. The singing, dancing and mere delights amidst the adversity made me realize how beautiful and stronger African slum societies are.

The other lesson that the film imparted to me is that talent occurs everywhere. Unless Phiona had entered the chess program which is organized by Coach Katende, it is possible that her talent would have remained undiscovered.

The movie made me realize that there is genius and innovativeness within underrepresented groups, genius which the world fails to recognize due to poverty or opportunity deprivation.

Were there any stereotypes challenged or broken in the film?

And the movie does dispel a number of stereotypes, and this is one of the reasons why the movie is so powerful. Among the key stereotypes that it is destabilizing is the idea that individuals raised in slums are incapable of bringing great things to their lives.

Most individuals believe that only the individuals born into wealthy families or those studying in costly education institutions are the ones who succeed. Phiona sets out to prove that this is not true. She picks up chess faster and turns out to be good at it to the extent she plays with kids who have rich backgrounds, are enrolled in better schools and have more privileges.

The other stereotype that the movie disproves is that girls should not perform well in a game which is very strategic such as chess. Girls are also in most occasions compelled to domestic chores only as seen in Katwe.

But Phiona is the opposite of such a stereotype. She ends up being one of the finest chess players in Uganda and she even plays on the international level. Her narration confirms that girls are good at everything given an opportunity.

The movie also breaks the stereotype of slum neighborhoods as something that only breed hopelessness. Rather, the film reveals the smarts, power and aspirations concealed in these neighborhoods.

Coach Katende himself is a role model, he lives his life to change the children who have been neglected by the society. Katwe children are disciplined, focused, and passionate, which refutes the stereotype that children in the slums are not motivated and lack direction.

Which character’s journey did you relate to the most?

I best connected with the story of Phiona Mutesi. Her tale is an inspiration of hope to every human being who has ever struggled or felt inadequate by his or her background.

Phiona begins with nothing, she does not even read well, she sells maize to make a living and she even gets ashamed when people in society look down upon her. She continues to fight with self-doubt and fear even when she starts to achieve success in chess. But she struggles on, one by one.

I related to her desire to have a better life and not knowing how to achieve it. Her hardships, her cries and her wish to stand out of her circumstances were so real to me.

Her bravery was something I liked, particularly when she was participating in contests against individuals who undermined her. Her story demonstrates that success does not consist in the origin of your birth, but what you are ready to struggle to get.

What’s one message from the film that stuck with you?

The most thought-provoking quote which has remained in my mind is the following statement: Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. It is one of the best lessons of the movie.

Phiona was gifted to be great, and somebody had to recognize that. That was an opportunity offered by Coach Katende. The world would possibly never know her name without him.

The message imparts to me that there are a lot of individuals in the world who might possess great abilities in chess, in music, in sports or in academic works yet they are not heard due to the lack of opportunities.

It also teaches me to help and help others, to support the youth, and have faith in people who have a rough upbringing. The extent to which encouragement or guidance can go is always unknown.

I invite @josepha, @stef1 and @mikitaly to drop a very constructive comments on this post and also to participate in this contest.

❤️I hope you enjoyed very much by reading my post. Thank you so much for reading till the end❤️

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@adese

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