DVD Review by Kam Williams
David
Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike Co-Star in True Tale of Forbidden Love
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 touchstones from "Colour Bar" (the
432-page book it's based on) she was determined to shoehorn into the
encyclopedic biopic. Nonetheless, the final product is a praiseworthy
production reminiscent of another true tale of racial intolerance.
Can
anybody say, "Loving," African style!
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for sensuality, profanity and ethnic slurs
Running time: 111 minutes
Distributor: Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: The Making of A United Kingdom; Filming in Botswana; The Legacy of Seretse and Ruth; and London Film Festival Opening Night Gala Premiere.
To see a trailer for A United Kingdom, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5vI4osR50
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