Queen To Play

High atop the rugged mountains of Corsica, H̩l̬ne pedals her bike to work. She's a chambermaid at a luxury hotel, living a humdrum working-class life. H̩l̬ne came to Corsica years ago for her husband, who works in the boatyards. Serious and conscientious about her work, she has no particular desire to change things. Then one day she glimpses a romantic couple playing an impassioned game of chess on the balcony of a room she's cleaning. Seized with a vague longing, H̩l̬ne purchases an electronic chess game for her husband, hoping the game might help them rekindle an old flame. When he understandably wonders what's gotten into her, she begins teaching herself chess at night. H̩l̬ne stubbornly persuades the gruff, reclusive American Doctor Kr̦ger, for whom she serves as a house cleaner, to mentor her. As she becomes fixated on the game, she begins to neglect her work and family. Once H̩l̬ne realizes that the Queen is the strongest piece Рshe can go anywhere and do anything she likes Рshe sees that chess might offer a way out of her mundane existence. QUEEN TO PLAY features sensitive performances by Sandrine Bonnaire as H̩l̬ne and Kevin Kline as Doctor Kr̦ger. (In French with subtitles) РB.B.