January 26 - Queen to Play: Joueuse (2009), 101 minutes, directed by Caroline Bottaro, starring Sandrine Bonnaire and Kevin Kline.
French maid Hélène (a radiant Sandrine Bonnaire) discovers she has a talent for chess. What begins as a pastime turns into an obsession, leading to tensions with her husband and daughter. But she is not about to quit, taking lessons secretly from a reclusive American (Kevin Kline). This lovely and unpretentious film is boosted by sensitive performances and gorgeous locations on Corsica, where chess is a beloved game for all ages. "A smart and thoroughly engaging drama that makes chess look thrilling, and intellectual pursuits look sexy," writes Mattie Lucas in From the Front Row.
Watch Queen to Play: Jouseuse at your leisure and join the CinemaLit discussion online via Zoom on Friday, January 26. Queen to Play: Jouseuse may be found on Kanopy by using your Mechanics' Institute library card or a San Francisco Public Library card. If additional support is needed, please contact us at [email protected].
January 2024 CinemaLit – Chess in the Movies
The renowned Mechanics' Institute Chess Program shares the fourth floor with CinemaLit, it seems only natural we run with the theme of "Chess in the Movies." Chess has appeared in films for a very long time, bringing suspense, intrigue, and humor to a game so seemingly quiet and contemplative. Master directors have explored its dramatic power. Hitchcock used it effectively in The Lodger (1927), one of his early silent films. Ingmar Bergman turned chess into a game of life and death in The Seventh Seal (1957).
We're featuring three films that treat chess as metaphor, or as a means of personal and social transformation. And a fourth entry in our series is just plain fun, a classic caper film with a memorable (though unfinished) chess game. Join us for Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), Queen of Katwe (2016), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), and Queen to Play: Joueuse (2009). Your move!
Matthew Kennedy, CinemaLit’s curator, has written biographies of Marie Dressler, Joan Blondell, and Edmund Goulding. His book Roadshow! The Fall of Film Musicals in the 1960s, was the basis of a film series on Turner Classic Movies.
“I don't have a favorite film,” Matthew says. "I find that my relationships to films, actors, genres, and directors change as I change over the years. Some don't hold up. Some look more profound, as though I've caught up with their artistry. I feel that way about Garbo, Cary Grant, director John Cassavetes, and others."
“Classic films have historical context, something only time can provide,” Matt observes. “They become these great cultural artifacts, so revealing of tastes, attitudes, and assumptions.”
Mechanics' Institute Members Free
Non-Members $10
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Please note: Photos and/or video may be taken during this event.
CinemaLit Films
