This is How Movies Should Be Made

Sadly Over-hyped

The first must-see film of the year.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

It took me a long time to find this movie. I was really excited when it arrived. It was nothing like I expected and it really disappointed me. I finished up switching it off half way through. I love chess and I loved the published story line. What I received was an ill thought out badly filmed amateur movie. It did not help that most of the dialogue was so badly recorded or spoken, not sure which, that you could not understand what was being said most of the time. If you are considering this movie, do not bother, our copy is going in the bin.

This is the one inspired by an earlier documentary on the life of Genesis Potini, a Maori chess champion. We've seen this movie before: a passel of dead-end kids going nowhere until an unlikely teacher shows up and molds them into a symphony orchestra, ballroom dancers or a brilliant chorus. But who cares? It's a great story, particularly because the teacher is saving himself as well. Success depends heavily on execution, and this is very well executed indeed. So: a champion player when very, even too young, Genesis Potini was eventually crushed by the pressure to the extent that he has long been in and out of mental institutions. Now out again, and promising to stick to his meds (he's not violent—just erratic), he persuades local social workers to let him try to give their no-hopers some useful direction by teaching them to play chess. The dialogue is in English, but it is an English seriously damaged by local slang, heavy accents and mumbling. But that matters little: the narrative drive overcomes it, and as I've said, we've seen this before. It's very well worth seeing again in this new New Zealand version.

Spectacular. What can I say. I saw this film yesterday and I am still emotionally changed by it. Cliff Curtis' portrayal of the main character Genesis is incredible. Every facial movement, gaze and words contain such intent and delivery that it makes you imagine or see what is going on in his mind. The opening scene is stunning directing and DOP work and creates the mood for the entire film.James Rolleston as Mana is excellent. Very powerful delivery and believable. Same can be said for Wayne Hapi who plays Mana's father Ariki. Kirk Torrance as Noble and the rest of the cast is great.I also felt a close connection to this film because I grew up in a small town in Australia with people similar to the roles portrayed in this film so I can relate.Great work, I will see again very soon and can't wait to own it when it is released.

I'm a huge fan of Cliff Curtis which is the main reason I wanted to see this movie. Once again, as Genesis Potini, his portrayal of a real human being who shows love, conflict and courage in facing adversity, reveals the heart of this extraordinary man. Wayne Hapi as his brother Ariki, is an amazingly charismatic 'unknown' actor whose performance matches C.C's as a tough but tragic Father/brother/survivor trying to do his best for his son. Everyone involved in this movie has got to feel proud of their involvement in enlightening people to feel empathy towards this misunderstood world of gangs, psychosis and modern families. Amazingly, this often sad, bleak movie showed genuine hope and joy in being alive.