‘Queen to Play’ successfully exhibits woman’s midlife struggle to gain sovereignty

"Queen to Play" is a 2009 French drama written and directed by Caroline Bottaro, adapted from Bertina Henrichs' novel of the same name.

The film will be playing at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center from July 15 to 21.

Helene is a middle-aged maid living on the idyllic island of Corsica, Italy. Her days consist of hum-drum housekeeping, while trying to take care of her teenage daughter Lisa and hard-working husband Ange. One afternoon, Helene watches a lovely couple playing chess while tidying up their hotel room. She is instantly transfixed by the sophisticated board game and buys a cheap electronic set for her husband's birthday. Instead of sleeping, Helene sneaks out of bed, spending late nights secretly sharpening her chess skills while sucking down a pack of smokes.

One of Helene's regular cleaning clients is Dr. Kroger, a gruff American and pseudo-hermit whose hardships in life have left him lonely and bitter. When Helene discovers a chess set stashed away on Kroger's shelf, she begs him to teach her the finer points of the game. The doctor reluctantly agrees, and the two begin holding regular chess sessions each week. Drama ensues as Helene and Kroger's relationship becomes the talk of the town, making many people, including her husband, suspicious of the two's newly found friendship.

"Queen to Play" largely focuses on the mid-life liberation of the protagonist. Helene's innate talent for chess rejuvenates her love for life, as she fine-tunes her faculties in ways she never thought possible. The marital quarrels that result bring to light underlying issues between the contemptuous couple. Helene desperately desires something to call her own, and Ange struggles to come to grip with his wife's surging sense of sovereignty.

Though "Queen to Play" follows a fairly familiar storytelling formula, the central character is charming and intriguing enough to maintain viewers' interest. There are understated elements working throughout the film, both in terms of the individuals and their connections to each other, that aren't overtly apparent. This narrative restraint that Bottaro opts for bolsters the film significantly, allowing it to rise above the conventionality of its melodramatic tone.   

One of the central themes of "Queen to Play" is having confidence in one's self and a willingness to take risks. On the surface, it may seem that the filmmaker failed to follow her own advice and decided to play it safe. However, the film's final scenes suggest otherwise by taking a brief and unexpected twist that turns the entire film on its head. Through solid performances, and a small yet significant subversion of expectations, "Queen to Play" succeeds as a compelling tale of self-fulfillment.

mikehollins@dailynebraskan.com

Grade: B