Synopsis
Hélène, a housekeeper at a ritzy hotel in Corsica, is devoted to her family but lacks any passion in her own life. When she sees a handsome couple play a passionate game of chess, she becomes inspired to play herself. Hélène's working-class husband and spoiled daughter are soon bewildered by her obsession with chess. They also grow suspicious of Hélène's close relationship with Dr. Kröger, her eccentric American expat tutor.
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Cast
- Sandrine BonnaireHélène
- Kevin KlineKröger
- Valérie LagrangeMaria
- Francis RenaudAnge
- Alexandra GentilLisa
- Alice PolNatalia
- Élisabeth VitaliMarie-Jeanne
- Jennifer BealsL’Américaine
- Dominic GouldL’Américain
- Christine AmbrosiniLa femme de l'autocar
Recommendations
- 90
Los Angeles Times
It's the best kind of unforced filmmaking, able to make its points with delicacy and tact. And the best thing about it is that it is Bottaro's feature directing debut. We have a lot to look forward to. - 90
The New York Times
In small but significant ways, Queen to Play defies expectations. It dangles the possibility of an affair between Hélène and Kröger in games that the film likens to courtship rituals in a classic screwball comedy. - 80
Variety
Like Sebastian Silva's "The Maid," Queen posits a radically different approach to class and gender empowerment. - 75
New York Post
Queen To Play is ultimately about people's capacity for emotional and intellectual growth at any age. - 70
Village Voice
The supporting cast is uniformly fine, but the film rests on the delicate shoulders of Bonnaire, who carries it with a soulful, magnetic presence. - 70
NPR
Relaxed and goofy in "Dave," "A Fish Called Wanda" and a host of other comedies, Kevin Kline has an endearing way of subverting his own grandee impulses when he's being funny. Give the actor a dramatic role, though, and he comes on all Shakespeare in the Park. - 60
New York Daily News
Kline, who has done a lot of chewy character roles after several stage triumphs, is as sly and leonine as ever. His performance here obliterates that phony accent he used in "French Kiss." - 58
The A.V. Club
Queen To Play has a winning heroine, who fantasizes about being special and then works hard to make it happen. Too bad the rest of the movie is so common.
