Queen to Play

101 minutes

France, Germany

Oscar winner Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda) and the luminous Sandrine Bonnaire (Vagabond) square off in this stylish and sophisticated dramedy of newfound passions and mid-life triumphs, set on the postcard-perfect isle of Corsica. Lovely, repressed and quietly intelligent, French chambermaid (Bonnaire) discovers she has a knack for chess. This obsession--much to the chagrin of her husband and teenaged daughter--leads her to seek the clandestine tutelage of a reclusive American doctor (Kline, in his first French-speaking role)--a liaison that radically transforms both of their lackluster lives.

95% on the CINEMETER

95% - Mar 20, 2011

Female director, female protagonist, feminist theme - what's not to like? Would have liked to see the film explore the suppression of female power.
San Francisco Member

I loved the fact that she needed and found intellectual stimulation and that no one had to have a life-chaning experience or event along the way.
San Francisco Member

Formula feminism.
San Francisco Member

BOCA

95% - Mar 27, 2011

The acting was great. Engrossing, delightful, inspirational.
Boca Raton Member

Entertaining even for non-chess players. Wonderful scenery. I'm going out to look for a Dr. Kroger to teach me chess!!!
Boca Raton Member

The Queen can move anywhere on the chess board. The main character changed from a pawn who could only move one way through life to learning how to move in different directions.
Boca Raton Member

Zeitgeist Films