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jones408
Reviews
Joueuse (2009)
the main character learns to play chess and enters a tournament.
The film "A Queen to Play" is one French film I enjoyed. I loved the acting of Sandrine Bonnaire! She played her timid, meek, not outspoken character very well and was able to change with the character into an independent woman who can accomplish great things on her own two feet. I also loved the setting of the movie, Corsica is a beautiful area! The director, Caroline Bottaro, won an award for this movie at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in 2010. She has worked with Sandrine Bonnaire before in "C'est La Vie." Two ideas I thought were interesting about this movie were the idea of a woman playing in a man's sport and the idea of renewing oneself. In this movie, the character Helene (Sandrine Bonnaire) attempts to learn to play chess, which the movie portrays as a man's sport. However, the men are taken by surprise. The idea of renewing oneself is one main idea that stands out in this movie. Helene starts off as a timid and introverted maid who has settled for her life and goes through the same everyday motions. The movie ends with an independent, going after what she wants,and self-satisfying woman. An example of this would be how in the beginning, she never defies her husband and in the end, she does what she wants knowing he does not approve nor support her.
This movie was wonderful and tells a great story. I recommend seeing it for the acting, scenery, story line, and music. The music in this movie goes along with the setting nicely. The music is light and soft, just how Corsica is pictured in the film.
The only somewhat negative thing I can say is that the movie is very long for what the story line is. The real action doesn't happen till the very end. However, definitely still worth seeing!