Even after five years of working for the Library, I’m always amazed at what treasures I can find!
I’ve been a fan of French cinema ever since I took a French film class in university. A family friend in France recently recommended the film, “Joueuese” starring Kevin Kline and Sandrine Bonnaire. I was doubtful I would be able to find it easily, since many movie stores have closed and the on-demand movie service I subscribe to from my cable company mostly features big-name, blockbuster hits. Imagine my surprise and delight when I searched “Joueuse” in the Library’s catalogue and it came up right away, with the English title, “Queen to Play.” Southwood Library had a copy checked in, in its Multilanguage DVD section.
“Queen to Play” tells the story of lovely, repressed, and quietly intelligent French chambermaid Helene, who comes upon a couple engaged in an intensely sensual chess match. She discovers she has a knack for the game. This obsession, much to the chagrin of her husband and teenage daughter, leads her to seek the clandestine tutelage of a reclusive American doctor, a liaison that radically transforms both of their lackluster lives.
You don’t have to be a chess enthusiast to enjoy the film. I loved it – and highly recommend it, whether you are looking for a November escape to the rolling French countryside and seascapes or an intelligent adventure where you can cheer on the underdog!