A United Kingdom
Historical
Drama Recounts Scandalous Interracial Romance
Upon
the untimely death of his father, Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo) was
crowned the King of Bechuanaland at the tender age of 4. But his
Uncle Tshekedi (Vusi Kunene) assumed the reins of power until the
heir apparent could complete his education.
While
studying law in Great Britain, Seretse fell in love at first sight
with Ruth Williams (Rosamund
Pike), a lowly clerk at Lloyd's of London. Their whirlwind romance
ignited an international firestorm of controversy because of their
color, not their class, differences.
For,
he was black and she was white, and this was 1946, a time of strict
racial segregation. So, the couple's scandalous liaison was met with
resistance both in England and back of Africa.
Although
they found themselves assailed with racial slurs like "slut"
and "savage" while out on dates, the hostility only served
to intensify their feelings for one another. Meanwhile, Seretse was
threatened with the loss of his throne, since Bechuanaland
was a protectorate of neighboring South Africa, a white supremacist
nation. Nevertheless,
he got down on one knee and proposed to Ruth and the two married just
a year after they met.
Unfortunately,
major impediments were subsequently placed between the exiled young
monarch and his governing, and that struggle is the subject of A
United Kingdom. Directed by Amma Asante (Belle), the film was shot on
location in Botswana, which is what the country has called itself
since gaining independence in 1966.
Because
the movie telescopes tightly on Ruth and Seretse's
relationship, it's success or failure is destined to turn on the
performances of co-stars David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike. The good
news is that they're very talented thespians capable of disappearing
into their roles while generating the requisite chemistry to make
their characters' enduring affair convincing.
The
film's only flaw is that it feels a bit rushed, as if director Asante
had a long checklist of actual incidents from "Colour Bar"
(the 432-page book the movie's based on) she was determined to
shoehorn into the encyclopedic biopic. Nonetheless, the final product
is a praiseworthy production reminiscent of another tale
of racial intolerance recently in theaters.
Let's
say, "Loving," African style!
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for sensuality, profanity and ethnic slurs
Running time: 111 minutes
Studio: Harbinger Pictures
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures
To see a trailer for A United Kingdom, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5vI4osR50
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