Queen to Play

In his first role performed entirely in French, Oscar winner Kevin Kline squares off against the radiant Sandrine Bonnaire to battle it out over a chessboard in this sleek, urbane comedy/drama. 

A wonderfully rich character study, the film follows middle-aged housekeeper Hélène (Bonnaire) through a transformation from staid, diligent wife and mother to whimsical, passionate creature of complex strategies and secret smiles. Set in the ever-scenic French Riviera, stunning views of the isle of Corsica make this film a visual vacation for cinephiles and casual moviegoers alike.

When Hélène discovers a couple playing an intense game of chess on the balcony of a hotel room, a spark is awakened in her that is at once intellectual and erotic. The idea of the game engulfs her life, and she soon seeks out the private tutelage of one of her clients, a reclusive American doctor (Kevin Kline). Her daughter and husband begin to fade from view as her new passion takes up more and more of her life…