Brooklyn Castle is a documentary
about five members of the chess team at I.S. 318, an inner-city junior high
school - where more than 65% of students are from homes living below that
poverty level - that has won more national championships than any other in the
country. The film - which has an inspiring, beautiful trailer you can watch by
clicking here -
follows the challenges the kids face in their personal lives as
well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it
is about the anticipation of their victories. Ironically, the biggest obstacle
thrust upon them arises not from other competitors, but from recessionary budget
cuts to all the extracurricular activities at their school. Brooklyn Castle
shows how the kids' dedication to chess magnifies their belief in what is
possible for their lives. After all, if they can master the world's most
difficult game, what can't they do?
Brooklyn Castle is driven by the compelling
personalities of its characters: 11-year-old prodigy Justus is already one of
America's highest-rated young chess players, and yet he often chokes, stymied by
the expectations of others and his uncompromising belief in his destiny;
Rochelle has the potential to become the first African-American female master in
the history of chess, but she struggles to find the balance between chess and
academic success; charismatic leader Pobo caters to the emotional needs of his
teammates, often at the expense of his own playing; shy Alexis, second-ranked in
the school, sees chess as a way to get a better education and job to support his
immigrant family; and Patrick, a sensitive beginner who is determined to use his
modest goal of raising his chess ranking as a means to rise above his attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The triumphs of the team can be credited in large
part to the brilliant chess teacher Elizabeth Spiegel and the school's Assistant
Principal John Galvin, as well as the support and encouragement from their
parents, but nothing would matter without the passion and time commitment the
players bring to their study of the game. And while repeatedly winning is
exhilarating, the team's victories go beyond a room full of trophies - through
chess they learn patience and long-term planning, and the importance of
analyzing the wrong or right decisions they make after the game. In essence,
chess provides skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives,
regardless of what profession they choose.
The aspirations of the players are put in jeopardy
by the financial crisis. The budget for their Brooklyn school, I.S. 318, is cut
by more than a million dollars and they face the possibility that they will not
have the money to attend tournaments they would probably win. The budget cuts
are another difficult battle that school and the team must fight, but the
players have learned through playing chess that every problem has a solution if
you are willing to work hard enough to find it.
Through the inspirational stories of its
characters, Brooklyn Castle illustrates that the "extra" in extracurricular
activities are not "extra" - they are essential to the teaching of what
Principal Rubino calls "the whole child." As Patrick's story vividly
demonstrates, programs like the chess team can be an indispensible way to
open the door for all kinds of learning. For Justus, Patrick, Rochelle, Pobo
and Alexis, chess is more than a game: it is a realm where they can
transcend their reality and become kings and queens themselves. Brooklyn
Castle celebrates the hard work and determination that fires these young
people's pursuit of their dreams.
Brooklyn Castle will be playing in theaters
around the country. Please support this important film by seeing it at a
theater near you.
| 2-Nov Chicago |
Century |
| 2-Nov Boston |
Kendall Square |
| 2-Nov DC |
E Street |
| 2-Nov Minneapolis |
Edina |
| 2-Nov Charlotte |
Park Terrace |
| 2-Nov Austin |
Arbor |
| 2-Nov Atlanta |
Tara |
| 2-Nov Denver |
Landmark |
| 2-Nov Portland |
Fox Tower |
| 9-Nov Philadelphia |
Ritz Bourse |
| 9-Nov Seattle |
Harvard Exit |
| 9-Nov Charlottesville, VA |
Downtown |
| 9-Nov Knoxville |
Downtown |
| 21-Nov St. Louis |
Plaza Frontenac |
