05/18/2011
Review by David Anthony
In Queen to Play Sandrine Bonnaire is Hélène, a housekeeper whose marriage has lost much of its former ardor. While working she happens upon a couple passionately involved in a chess game. A stranger to this, she becomes enraptured with it and its power to contain and express her smoldering sensuality. Joueuse, the French title of the film (meaning “playful”), is a comic 2009 feature that boldly displays Bonnaire’s talents.Queen to Play is not a side-splitting comedy, however; nor is it a farce. Rather, it is a bittersweet glance at class and desire, as in what grants us pleasure in our existence.
Kevin Kline (who seems busy these days), portrays Kröger, a well-heeled American for whom Hélène also labors. Kline as Kröger is singularly intriguing, as almost all of his dialogue is delivered in French. The hidden injuries of class and gender do not deter Hélène from learning chess from the gruff, taciturn Kröger who, in spite of his irascible arrogance, finds himself taken with the pluck of this indomitable woman.
Hélène spends more and more time with Kröger, arousing the attention of the nosy neighbors of the small Corsican hamlet in which Queen to Play is set. Before long, rumors abound of an “affair” between the two. In fact, Hélène is smitten with chess itself, gradually becoming proficient enough to venture into tournament play, and there the plot thickens. Kröger does feel an intense attraction to Hélène, partly out of loneliness, but equally out of sheer admiration for her surprising determination.
In Queen to Play director Caroline Bottaro has crafted a delightful dessert in which Sandrine Bonnaire is simply enchanting. She is at once subtle and bold, a master of nuances as well as grand gestures. She is unassuming, guileless and totally credible.
The situation affords her and us, the viewing audience, plenty of space to luxuriate in the appeal chess holds for so many people of varied backgrounds the world over.
At times it is as if the game itself is a character, so carefully even affectionately is it portrayed. The overwhelmingly male, dismissively patrician patrons of the game totally underestimate Hélène and her upstart working class abilities. They act as if they are humoring her by tolerating her presence, but it is she who has the last laugh.
Queen to Play will bring smiles to the viewer, much as Sandrine Bonnaire is able to smile, sometimes with her eyes, often with the corners of her mouth, occasionally with a flash of teeth, always with absolute authenticity. She makes Joueuse joyous.
Do go see it and be reminded of what can make a heart flutter in human interaction.
For the KUSP Film Gang, this is David Anthony.