Glory to the Queen

The Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit has suddenly piqued a wide audience's interest in chess. In Georgia, however, the game has always been popular – it is even common to gift newlyweds with a chessboard. This film offers a portrait of four female masters: for decades, Nona Gaprindaschwili, Nana Alexandria, Maia Tschiburdanidze and Nana Iosseliani dominated the international scene. Their triumphs were celebrated by the USSR's communist regime and used to political advantage. Through their public presence they became icons of emancipation. Director Tatia Skhirtladze's entertaining portrait is a fitting cinematic tribute to the four exceptional female chess players. (goEast - Festival des mittel- und osteuropäischen Films)