"A United Kingdom" is first and foremost a love story although there is also a social agenda. Like Loving, it's about how affection between a man and a woman of different races affects not only their immediate social circles but has ripples that impact history. Director Amma Asante never sacrifices her narrative in favor of sermonizing, but it's clear how she feels about the attitudes of the British. Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo), the Prince of Bechuanaland, is in London attending school in 1947 when he meets Ruth Wilson (Rosamund Pike). Their romance turns into an international issue when he asks her to marry him and she accepts. They face resistance from everyone, from her father disowning her to Seretse's uncle, the current regent (Vusi Cunene), refusing to accept a white woman as his queen. British government representative Alistair Canning (Jack Davenport) warns that South Africa won't be pleased. (At the time, England wanted to keep South Africa, the most prominent power in Africa, happy.) Despite misgivings, Seretse and Ruth marry then travel to his home, where he must stand before a tribal council and plead his case. The council backs him and affirms his kingship but this causes a break between Seretse and his uncle, allowing the British government to interfere.
Because this is an underdog overcoming adversity, which history has already determined he did, Seretse triumph in the end is quite satisfying. But his journey to victory is a hard one as he fights not only local powers, but those at the pinnacle of British power, including Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who reneges on a promise made to Seretse. David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike, who portray their characters as human beings rather than the historical icons they have become, is the strength of the movie. "A United Kingdom" is a touching and meaningful story, one that everyone should see.
No comments:
Post a Comment