Disney movies about triumphant characters overcoming great odds often come with a heavy serving of sap, hyperbolizing struggles and achievements with a glossy Hollywood veneer. Mira Nair’s Queen of Katwe doesn’t entirely do that. While there is a sweet and sentimental flourish, Nair’s film about a young Uganda chess champion plays like a sincere biopic that isn’t desperate to pry tears from your eyes or exploit a minority tale for dramatic effect.
After winning an Oscar for her incredible breakthrough performance in 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong’o has been awesomely unpredictable in her career choices. Instead of following up the acclaimed drama with more acclaimed dramas, Nyong’o starred in two films back-to-back where she portrayed animated characters. More than anything, it’s left us anxious to see her in another live-action film, which makes the first trailer for Queen of Katwe pretty exciting.