The Oscar-nominated film "A Royal Affair" and the documentary "Brooklyn Castle" open today at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. "A Royal Affair" is nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Both play through Feb. 21.
"Brooklyn Castle" is the true story of I.S. 318 in Brooklyn. The school, where 65 percent of students live below the federal poverty level, has the highest ranked junior high school chess team in the nation.
The film features team members: Rochelle, who has the goal to become the first female African-American chess master; Pobo, the team's charismatic leader; Justus, a new student who must manage the high expectations that come with achieving master status at a young age; Alexis, who is pressured by his immigrant parents to achieve the American dream; Patrick, who uses chess to help overcome ADHD; and James, a young rapping maestro and budding chess talent.
"A Royal Affair" is the true story of an ordinary may who wins the queen's heart and starts a revolution. The film centers on the love triangle between the ever more insane Danish King Christian VII (played by Mikkel Boe Følsgaard); the royal physician Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen); and the young but strong Queen Caroline Mathilda (Alicia Vikander).
For more information, including show times and ticket prices, go to http://www.theross.org or call 402-472-5353.