Oscar® winner Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda, The Ice Storm) and the luminous Sandrine Bonnaire (Vagabond, La Cérémonie) 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 Hélène (Bonnaire) discovers her love for chess when, one day, she comes upon a couple (The L Word’s Jennifer Beals and Marie Antoinette’s Dominic Gould) engaged in an intense match. This obsession with the game, 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. Based on Bertina Henrichs’ acclaimed novel La Joueuse d’echec (The Chess Player), Queen to Play is the auspicious feature film debut of French director and screenwriter Caroline Bottaro.
“Like The Maid, Queen posits a radically different approach to class and gender empowerment!” -VARIETY
“Bonnaire delivers a beautifully modulated turn…. Kline, in his first entirely French-speaking role, intriguingly underplays as the mysterious Kroger.”
-THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
QUEEN TO PLAY will open April 1st at New York’s Angelika Film Center and Lincoln Plaza Cinema. For more information and to watch the trailer visit www.zeitgeistfilms.com/queentoplay
Excellent actors.
Advanced screening? I saw this months ago on video. It’s very good.
How much you wanna bet they get the chess wrong in ways that the general public won’t know but that real chessplayers will?
I’ve seen the movie. And it manages to do an okay job for the most part.
Apart from one game where 3 consecutive moves are played while a king is in check.
“In his first French-speaking role”?? Kline spoke pretty good French in “French Kiss”, like fifteen years ago.
Scheming plot.
Susan, sweet greetings.
Stef
Film Production is different from Film Distribution (Not always but often).
Zeitgeist Films is an American independent film distributor.
Studio Canal is a French Film Production, so…
Susan, sweet greetings.
Stef
Hi all, the distribution company Zeitgeist Films has nothing to do with Zeitgeist – The Movie you are talking about.
The theatrical premiere of QUEEN TO PLAY will be on April 1st in LA and NYC.
We hope you can come and see our film!
I can’t wait to see it. Thanks, Susan for letting us know about it.
He only spoke some French in French Kiss with Meg Ryan.
Hi — I am the publicist for the film (full disclosure:). Let me shed some light on a few things, or try to. This is Kevin Kline’s first entirely French-speaking role. In French Kiss, he spoke some French, but mostly English, as Anonymous notes correctly. In QUEEN TO PLAY, Kline speaks French exclusively throughout the whole film, and it’s quite impressive. Most importantly, we had invited Susan to a private press screening of the film but you can all go see it in theaters starting April 1st when it will open in New York at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and the Angelika Film Center, as well as in three theaters in Los Angeles. For a full and constantly updated list of play dates, please visit: http://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/playdates_new.php?directoryname=queentoplay
I won’t even venture to enter the discussion about chess itself, but I do love the movie. It is about a women who has an intellectual awakening through the discovery of chess. I really encourage people to see it, it’s a great story about women’s empowerment. Thanks.
Julia Pacetti
JMP Verdant Communications
I am delighted every time chess is portrayed, featured or merely mentioned in a movie.
When a movie has such excellent actors I’m even more excited and enthusiastic about it.
I had the chance to watch it when it came out in Europe and I believe a chess player can enjoy it without having to cringe for a black square placed at the right corner 😉
Also, the story is very intriguing and the acting breathtaking.
If Kevin will be there with you at the private screening, please Susan…give him a kiss for us (his fans that is 😉