Queen to Play - 3 1/2 smiles

“Queen to Play” is a light-hearted fairy tale in which chess is the subject and metaphor for the central character, Hélène, played by Sandrine Bonnaire. Director Caroline Bottaro compares the strategies of chess to the erotic maneuvers in a flirtation. At the same time, a woman’s winning the game symbolizes female empowerment in a man’s world. Hélène (Bonnaire) is an attractive maid at a luxury hotel in Corsica. While going about her chores, she observes a game being played by a sexy American couple (Jennifer Beals and Dominic Gould). When stealthy moves and playful glances result in the woman winning, Hélène is intrigued. Hoping to reignite a spark in her marriage, Hélène buys her husband, a dockworker named Ange (Francis Renaud), an electronic chess set for his birthday. Ange is confused by the gift and ultimately uninterested so Hélène begins teaching herself and quickly becomes obsessed. Eager to learn more, she convinces Dr. Kröger (Kevin Kline, in his first entirely French-speaking role), a widowed American professor for whom she works as a part-time housecleaner, to tutor her in chess. When, after a few lessons, she is regularly beating him, he urges her to enter a local tournament. In addition, Hélène’s relationships with her husband and rebellious teenage daughter, Lisa (Alexandra Gentil), undergo surprising transformations. Ange, initially threatened by Hélène’s passion, realizes she has a gift and gradually begins to admire her skill and tenacity. Lisa, who was one ashamed of her parents for being poor, becomes her mother’s champion.

Though Kline is quite effective, “Queen to Play” succeeds because of Bonnaire. Her Hélène subtly evolves from harried domestic, content to be competent and organized, to a woman who discovers her power and her passion. Bonnaire runs through a wide range of emotions and we feel what she’s feeling. But you have to give some credit for Bonnaire’s amazing performance to the empathetic direction of Bottaro. Catch “Queen to Play” before it disappears from local theaters. It deserves to been seen. Subtitles. 4/14/11