the premise is promising, the actors were great, the subject is deep. what could go wrong? well the script was at times either too much or predictable which turned me off. the characters were typical. when she had that argument with the Doctor, the scene is so random that it feels like they had to jeopardize the friendship right before the final act. the beginning was deceitful. the way she learns how to play chest is unrealistic. the outcome was deceitful. at the beginning, all the self-empowerment and self-fulfillement was all right, it's all inspiring until the main character decide to cheat her husband without guilt and consequences. just like that.

The film "A Queen to Play" is one French film I enjoyed. I loved the acting of Sandrine Bonnaire! She played her timid, meek, not outspoken character very well and was able to change with the character into an independent woman who can accomplish great things on her own two feet. I also loved the setting of the movie, Corsica is a beautiful area! The director, Caroline Bottaro, won an award for this movie at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in 2010. She has worked with Sandrine Bonnaire before in "C'est La Vie." Two ideas I thought were interesting about this movie were the idea of a woman playing in a man's sport and the idea of renewing oneself. In this movie, the character Helene (Sandrine Bonnaire) attempts to learn to play chess, which the movie portrays as a man's sport. However, the men are taken by surprise. The idea of renewing oneself is one main idea that stands out in this movie. Helene starts off as a timid and introverted maid who has settled for her life and goes through the same everyday motions. The movie ends with an independent, going after what she wants,and self-satisfying woman. An example of this would be how in the beginning, she never defies her husband and in the end, she does what she wants knowing he does not approve nor support her.This movie was wonderful and tells a great story. I recommend seeing it for the acting, scenery, story line, and music. The music in this movie goes along with the setting nicely. The music is light and soft, just how Corsica is pictured in the film.The only somewhat negative thing I can say is that the movie is very long for what the story line is. The real action doesn't happen till the very end. However, definitely still worth seeing!

An inspiring chess movie because the democratic essence of the game prevails even when overcoming such obstacles as gender and class bias. But too, the story is as much about battles of all kinds as it is about chess. We find in this film that a cleaning women's life changes because she says, "I exist, too. I have an interest. I will work at it because it matters to me." She learns, as we all do, that if you take a risk you may lose, but if you do not take risks you will lose. Beautiful and subtle, yet appropriate, soundtrack and cinematography. Dialogue simple yet profound. Acting - spot on. Again, foreign studios seem to be outclassing LA and NY - not even close. Well, OK, we have bigger CGI effects' computers and budgets.

Joueuse is one of those French films that tenderly and charminlgly warms the heart - it is beautifully made with fine acting, a measured script, never too much or too little - and it rewards the viewer.The plot of the cleaning lady who discovers chess and a mentor has strong fairytale tones: she is poor, he lives in a château but has withdrawn from the world. She has a husband who struggles to understand his wife's new found interest and growth, he struggles with human interaction. Throughout there is a nice balance around the relationships that makes sense.Above all, this is a film about discovering that the things we do for pleasure bring their own reward. The chess is very well-handled throughout the film and it makes it fun to watch.The film has heart, humour, and is nicely unmelodramatic. One of the better films I have seen recently, a pleasure to watch and simply enjoy.