For a child growing up in Katwe, a ghetto of Uganda, there aren't a lot of options in life. For Phiona, who has lost her father and her big brother, and whose mother relies on selling vegetables in the market to keep a roof over their heads, that's especially true. When Phiona catches her brother sneaking off and playing chess, a whole new world of options opens up to her. She excels at the game and starts to envision a way out of Katwe for her family.