Hollywood, royalty mix as Queen of Katwe opens in Kampala
Lupita Nyong’o. FILE PHOTO
Kampala- “It’s not fun to watch myself but I have watched this film twice at a private screening, and at three different premieres and I love it,” confessed Lupita Nyong’o.
“I found the story really inspiring with layered and complex characters; a story about a girl with big dreams and I just wanted to be a part of it,” the Oscar winner said shortly before Queen of Katwe opened in Uganda on Saturday.
Prior to the Uganda premiere, Queen of Katwe had already had private screenings in Toronto and Hollywood.
The movie, which also stars David Oyelowo and new comers Madina Nalwanga and Martin Kabanza, tells the life of Chess champion Phionah Mutesi who beat all odds to make it to the top. Lupita plays Harriet Mutesi, Phionah’s mother.
But for Ugandan audiences, the first screening at the Century Cinemax on Friday was a breath of fresh air. Well attended by Disney Executive Producer Tendo Nagenda, Her Royal Highness Nabagereka Sylvia Naginda, representatives from the tourism board, former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Peter Anyang’ (Lupita’s father), Jennifer Musisi, (KCCA executive director) and a host of local film makers and artistes, the event was prestigious.
The actors looked gorgeous and sleek on the red carpet, suited up in gown and African fabric outfits.
Nalwanga wore a traditional Busuuti (Gomesi) and Lupita showed up in African dress and head gear. Esther Tebandeke and Taryn Kyazze wore beautiful blue gowns.
In her remarks, film director Mira Nair said the ‘film about this plucky young girl was best told in a way only a Ugandan who has lived here for 27 years could.’
