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Queen to Play

Original title: Joueuse
  • 20092009
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Kevin Kline, Sandrine Bonnaire, and Francis Renaud in Joueuse (2009)
Middle-aged chambermaid Hélène's newfound obsession with the game of chess leads her to seek the tutelage of a reclusive American expat, transforming both of their ho-hum lives in the process.
Play trailer1:38
1 Video
5 Photos
  • Drama
A chambermaid on Corsica is obsessed with chess after seeing a US expat play it lovingly with l'Américaine. She cleans his house and now also plays with him on Tuesdays.A chambermaid on Corsica is obsessed with chess after seeing a US expat play it lovingly with l'Américaine. She cleans his house and now also plays with him on Tuesdays.A chambermaid on Corsica is obsessed with chess after seeing a US expat play it lovingly with l'Américaine. She cleans his house and now also plays with him on Tuesdays.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Caroline Bottaro
  • Writers
    • Caroline Bottaro
    • Bertina Henrichs(novel)
  • Stars
    • Sandrine Bonnaire
    • Kevin Kline
    • Francis Renaud
Top credits
  • Director
    • Caroline Bottaro
  • Writers
    • Caroline Bottaro
    • Bertina Henrichs(novel)
  • Stars
    • Sandrine Bonnaire
    • Kevin Kline
    • Francis Renaud
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 30User reviews
    • 57Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Queen to Play (Joueuse)
    Trailer 1:38
    Queen to Play (Joueuse)

    Photos

    Kevin Kline, Sandrine Bonnaire, and Francis Renaud in Joueuse (2009)
    Sandrine Bonnaire in Joueuse (2009)
    Kevin Kline and Sandrine Bonnaire in Joueuse (2009)
    Sandrine Bonnaire in Joueuse (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sandrine Bonnaire
    Sandrine Bonnaire
    • Hélèneas Hélène
    Kevin Kline
    Kevin Kline
    • Krögeras Kröger
    Francis Renaud
    Francis Renaud
    • Angeas Ange
    Jennifer Beals
    Jennifer Beals
    • L'Américaineas L'Américaine
    Valérie Lagrange
    Valérie Lagrange
    • Mariaas Maria
    Alexandra Gentil
    • Lisaas Lisa
    Alice Pol
    Alice Pol
    • Nataliaas Natalia
    Élisabeth Vitali
    • Marie-Jeanneas Marie-Jeanne
    Daniel Martin
    • Le président du club d'échecsas Le président du club d'échecs
    Dominic Gould
    Dominic Gould
    • L'Américainas L'Américain
    Laurence Colussi
    • Pinaas Pina
    Didier Ferrari
    • Jackyas Jacky
    Valérie Tréjean
    • L'infirmièreas L'infirmière
    François Orsoni
    • Le journalisteas Le journaliste
    Christine Ambrosini
    • La femme de l'autocaras La femme de l'autocar
    Anne-Camille Challier
    • Fannyas Fanny
    Maxime Delauney
    • Le jeune homme du tournoias Le jeune homme du tournoi
    Lionel Tavera
    • Le chauffeur du busas Le chauffeur du bus
    • Director
      • Caroline Bottaro
    • Writers
      • Caroline Bottaro
      • Bertina Henrichs(novel)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film subtly suggests Hélène's improvement at playing chess through her opening moves. At the beginning, with her mentor, she opens by moving a side pawn, a move typical for inexperienced players who don't understand chess openings. Half-way through the apprenticeship, she opens with the king's pawn, the most widely used opening move, which shows that she now understands that chess playing is more than moving pieces and has an inner logic to be followed. For her last game with her mentor, she opens with the queen's pawn, a more complex opening which requires a better understanding of the dynamics of the game.
    • Goofs
      When Hélène first enters the hotel room where she will see the chess game, she unlocks the door and puts the keys back in her apron pocket. But when she enters the room, the keys are still in the door.
    • Quotes

      Hélène: When you take a risk, you may lose. When you don't take a risk, you always lose.

    • Connections
      Featured in Maltin on Movies: Conan the Barbarian (2011)

    User reviews30

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A movie about chess???
    There are movies about baseball and swimming and even pool and poker. This one is about chess. And it is a superb film, one of the few I've rated ten. Where to start? The rich photography and the stunning scenery? The captivating, believable characters? The subtleties that Europe does so well but Hollywood doesn't even understand? Perhaps the thing I liked best was the wonderful facial expressions. Anyone can learn a line. It takes much more talent to convey a story with a raised eyebrow, a cunning smile, an expression of shocked surprise. The movie is a winner even if you don't know the difference betaken a pawn and a rook. But if you play chess and understand its culture, it is especially engaging. Chess is wrongly regarded as a slow and boring game. Here it has the excitement of a bobsled run. Just a heluva great movie!
    helpful•15
    4
    • rps-2
    • Jul 1, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 1, 2011 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Germany
    • Official site
      • Studio Canal (France)
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La jugadora
    • Filming locations
      • Corsica, France
    • Production companies
      • Mon Voisin Productions
      • Blueprint Film
      • StudioCanal
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $478,710
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $28,092
      • Apr 3, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,458,601
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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