The QUEEN OF KATWE clip shows Phiona competing in her first chess match. Plus, listen to Alicia Keys’ new song, “Back to Life.” 

If you’ve never heard of Disney’s upcoming movie, Queen of Katwe, now’s the time to start hearing about it. The movie is about real life chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. Mutesi lived in the slums of Katwe in Uganda where she scrounged for food for herself and her family.

Because of her and her family’s need for food, she decided to show up for a chess program that missionary Robert Katende was holding. Katende offered a bowl of porridge to anyone who showed up to learn. So she showed up, and learned all about chess. And she had food to give to her brother and mother.

That was just the beginning. Fellow Ugandan and Queen of Katwe director Mira Nair was told about Mutesi’s life. She was hooked on Phiona’s story and teamed up with screenwriter William Wheeler to create the movie.

Now you can see a new clip that shows Phiona’s first chest match against a peer.

We wish amazing things for this movie, as it inspires on so many different levels, especially for women, and for people of color. One thing, however, that Disney will keep off is that of Phiona’s faith in God and Robert’s position as a missionary. If you want to read more about Phiona Mutesi’s life, there’s a biography about her written by Tim Crothers, which you can purchase on Amazon.

Listen to the recently released song “Back to Life” by Alicia Keys, inspired by Phiona’s story:

The movie stars newcomer Madina Nalwanga as Phiona, Lupita Nyong’o as Phiona’s mother Harriet, and David Oyelowo as chess mentor Robert Katende.

Queen of Katwe arrives in theaters September 30th.

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