King Me

Year: 2011
Country: USA, SOUTH AFRICA, BARBADOS, CANADA
Run Time: 82 minutes

Who knew that kings were being crowned and the fates of nations decided in a Rodeway Inn in Medina, Ohio? KING ME hopscotches around the world, from the Ohio State Checkers Championship to Barbados and South Africa, following the reigning champions of checkers. Ron "Suki" King is a Barbados native with a Muhammad Ali attitude who has been a World Checkers Champion for two decades. An unofficial ambassador from his country, he makes a handsome living from checkers sponsorships. Lubabalo Kondlo is his challenger, a poor man from South Africa whose efforts to make a move on an international stage seem blocked by an officious checkers administrator. The film goes deep inside institutions such as the World of Checkers Museum in Dubuque, and introduces us to Alex "The Mad Russian" Moiseyev, a Peter Lorre-like savant who trained as a checkers master during the Cold War. Featuring snappy motion graphics, this film takes a humorous look at the odd devotees of an enduring game that is obviously not just for kids. (In English and Xosa with subtitles) –B.B.

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