Brooklyn
Castle (2012) Directed/Produced by Katie Dellamaggiore
Brooklyn Castle tells the
stories of five members of the chess team at a below-the-poverty-line inner
city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other
in the country. The film follows the challenges these 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 these 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?