“You know those bins you see, many of the items end up in open markets. So, of course, Dawodu wanted this very central part of life in Uganda incorporated in the film. But it’s most renowned for its wide variety of vintage wears. Owino Market, which is Kampala’s largest (though there are several) and hosts about 500,000 traders, features stalls that sell everything from secondhand clothing and shoes to food and household appliances. “I wanted to really study and bring her personality to the screen,” he said. For instance, Nigerians dress much different than South Africans.”ĭawodu visited the real-life home of Mutesi’s mom and thumbed through her closet to draw inspiration for Nyong’o’s wardrobe. Each country is different, and especially in respect to wardrobe and how they dress. “Typically, there’s this sense of distance in African films, mainly because people see Africa as this one country rather than the very diverse continent it is. “I wanted to see what the people were wearing and how they interacted. “The first stop was the markets,” he said. Once in Uganda, Dawodu scoured the retail outlets of Kampala for items that would work with his vision for the film. It was like going home for me,” noted Dawodu, who drew inspiration for the film from “everything I saw growing up.” “My dad is Nigerian, and my first few years of life took place in Nigeria. As a fashion editor and the film’s costume designer, he curated the wardrobe and created a storyline with clothing. Part of laminating that sense of truth was creating the right imagery, and that’s where Nigeria-born Mobolaji Dawodu comes in. The thought being: If the story and people are real, the film’s visuals should be as well. The film was intentionally cast with actors who have a direct connection to Africa, which brings an organic authenticity to the film. Lupita Nyong’o is always on the queensideĭirected by Mira Nair (“Mississippi Masala” and “Salaam Bombay!”), the film stars Uganda-born newcomer Madina Nalwanga as Mutesi Kenya-reared Lupita Nyong’o as Mutesi’s mother, Nakku Harriet and Nigerian David Oyelowo in the role of Robert Katende, a missionary and refugee of Uganda’s civil war who started a chess program in Katwe.The story, and later a biographical novel, provided an honest look into Mutesi’s path to greatness, including the hurdles she leaped over to get there. The film is based on the essay “ Game of her Life,” which Tim Crothers penned for ESPN The Magazine in 2011. The film is based on real-world happenings, centering around the life of chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi, who hails from Katwe, an impoverished enclave in Kampala.Īt just 15 years old, she became a woman candidate master after dominating the World Chess Olympiads in 2012. Disney’s “ Queen of Katwe,” which hits theatres Friday, was shot on location in Kampala, Uganda - and the country becomes a lead character in the movie.
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