For those who like to see character transformation, this movie is for you. When we first meet Hélène she cleans houses and hotels to help her family (husband and teenage daughter) make ends meet. Hélène's daily life is routine--she is ignored by her husband and disrespected by her daughter. Seeing an attractive couple playing chess as if it were foreplay, Hélène is excited by the idea of the game and buys a computer chess game. She becomes absorbed by the game but can only make limited progress with the computer. She cleans house for a widowed American Dr. Kröger who just happens to be a chess player. She asks Kröger to play and he finally agrees to a game. I thought I knew where the story was going from there, but it did not go there.
The main theme touched on is how a passion can change a life. Through her passion for chess Hélène's life is transformed as is the life of her family. Hélène proves false the stereotype that a mere cleaning lady could not be good at chess, or for that matter that a woman should not have talent for the game.
The relationship that develops between Hélène and Dr. Kröger is at the heart of the movie. The excellent performances of Kevin Kline as Dr. Kröger and Sandrine Bonnaire as Hélène are what put this movie over the top. They are a delight. The scene where they play a game only by voicing the moves is about as intimate as any love scene.
I had a little difficulty believing that Hélène's skill could advance as quickly as portrayed, particularly her learning the game in middle age. I would think that the latent talent required would have expressed itself in some manner at an earlier age.
For a much more believable chess story, see "Searching for Bobby Fischer." Based on a true story, the kid's development in that movie is exceedingly well presented. A movie that treats the same theme of a passion surfacing at a later age is, "Everlasting Moments." The passion there is photography and again I found the development in that movie more believable, probably due to the fact that that movie is based on a true story. "Queen to Play" is a fictionalized conflation of these two fact-based movies.
The gentle musical score makes a good accompaniment. Corsica, where this was filmed, makes for good background scenery.
Although there are elements bordering on fantasy, I found this movie engaging and well worth seeing.
The main theme touched on is how a passion can change a life. Through her passion for chess Hélène's life is transformed as is the life of her family. Hélène proves false the stereotype that a mere cleaning lady could not be good at chess, or for that matter that a woman should not have talent for the game.
The relationship that develops between Hélène and Dr. Kröger is at the heart of the movie. The excellent performances of Kevin Kline as Dr. Kröger and Sandrine Bonnaire as Hélène are what put this movie over the top. They are a delight. The scene where they play a game only by voicing the moves is about as intimate as any love scene.
I had a little difficulty believing that Hélène's skill could advance as quickly as portrayed, particularly her learning the game in middle age. I would think that the latent talent required would have expressed itself in some manner at an earlier age.
For a much more believable chess story, see "Searching for Bobby Fischer." Based on a true story, the kid's development in that movie is exceedingly well presented. A movie that treats the same theme of a passion surfacing at a later age is, "Everlasting Moments." The passion there is photography and again I found the development in that movie more believable, probably due to the fact that that movie is based on a true story. "Queen to Play" is a fictionalized conflation of these two fact-based movies.
The gentle musical score makes a good accompaniment. Corsica, where this was filmed, makes for good background scenery.
Although there are elements bordering on fantasy, I found this movie engaging and well worth seeing.