As many of you already know, the movie Brooklyn Castle hit theaters today. Last night I was lucky enough to attend a pre-screening of the film in the Scholastic Auditorium sponsored The Afterschool Alliance and our Scholastic Classroom and Community Group. As if seeing the film early wasn’t exciting enough, audience members were also given the opportunity to ask questions to the four star students of the chess team, their inspiring chess teacher (yes, that’s right, their “chess teacher”) and the film maker about the movie.

Whether you are an avid chess player, or don’t even know what a “pawn” is, this film is a “must see.” (For all my fellow emotional friends out there, you may want to bring some tissues.) The film captures the true life adventures of a chess team from a below-poverty intermediate school in Brooklyn, NY.

Just as the I.S. 318 chess team finds its groove and feels unstoppable, recessionary budget cuts severely threaten the existence of all after school programs—making their existence unknown. Through perseverance from students, faculty, and parents the I.S. 318 community is determined to beat the odds.

From right to left: Katie Dellamaggiore, film maker; Elizabeth Vicary, coach/chess teacher; Rochelle, 8th grade; Patrick, 7th grade; Alexis, 7th grade; Pobo, 7th grade

The film shines a light on how important after school programs are for children, especially with more and more parents working longer and later hours. According to the Afterschool Alliance, “more than 15 million school-age children (26 percent) are on their own after school. Among them are more than 1 million are in grades K to 5.”

In fear of spoiling the film (because who really likes spoilers?!) I am going to stop there and recommend you catch Brooklyn Castle in theaters this weekend! It is a modern day “Glee Club” showing the ins-and-outs of school budget cuts and that not all students have to be football players or cheerleaders to get noticed! I give it two thumbs up!