Skip to main content

A United Kingdom

Poster via imdb.com
Based on a true story, A United Kingdom is about the former president of Botswana Sir Setetse Khama and his wife Ruth Williams Khama. In 1948, Seretse Khama, the Prince of Bechuenaland (now Botswana) falls in love with Ruth Williams. Their relationship is not accepted by their families in England and Bechuenaland. Ruth agrees to Marry Seretse to the dismay of her father who refused to speak to her. She goes to Bechuenaland with Seretse and isn't so welcomed there either. During this period of Apartheid, Interracial marriage had been banned so Seretse was exiled for five years and then for life. An enquiry was launched by the British Parliament to assert Khama's fitness to rule Bechuenaland. He was eventually allowed to go back and he returned with his wife and daughter in 1956. 
Image via imdb.com
Though not seen in the movie, Khama went on to become the first democratically elected president of Botswana in 1966 after the country gained independence from the United Kingdom. Directed by Amma Asante (Belle), A United Kingdom was a remarkable love story which I'd never heard about until the movie. So many years were squeezed into one short film which was gladly not so long, though it felt longer. Sadly racism is still a major issue in the society. David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike with the supporting actors deliver incredible performances which cannot be forgotten easily. 
Image via bbc.co.uk
                                 Image via bbc.co.uk
The filming was beautiful letting us see beautiful Botswana with its mountains and exotic animals. I'm definitely adding it to my list of dream destinations. David Oyelowo takes on his roles with so much class, I can't forget his role as Martin Luther King in Selma which gained him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor. It's so sad to see how race was a part of everything and a king was simply not allowed to rule his people because he chose to be with someone outside his race. Oyelowo and Pike genuinely moved me with their emotions especially when they were finally reunited after months apart from each other, their chemistry was undeniable. Asante delivered a movie which had a saccharine tone but was still amazing to watch. 
Ruth and Seretse Khama (Image via okayplayer.com)

Rating: 9/10

Genre Biography, Drama, Romance
Director Amma Asante
Produced by Brunson Green, Charlie Mason, Rick McCallum, Cameron McCracken, Justin Moore-Lewy, David Oyelowo 
Screenplay by Guy Hibbert
Starring David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Tom Felton, Terry Pheto, Jack Davenport, Abena Ayivor, Vusi Kunene
Running Time 1hr 51mins
Release Dates 25 November, 2016 (UK), 10 February 2017 (United States)

View the trailer below;

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Who Killed Julia Montague?"- Bodyguard Finale

BBC's Bodyguard has been one of the most satisfying series I've seen so far, this year. Over six episodes, they delivered a Limited Series that kept you on the edge of your seat and wondering what was next for Richard Madden's David Budd. David meets up with Julia's PA, Chanel, who was fired in the first episode because he was suspicious of her involvement in the bombings and he was right. She had a hand in it. Chanel set David up and he ended up getting ambushed and kidnapped by the leader of the criminal group, Luke Aitkens. The police are finally  able to piece the puzzle and they findd out that the ex-soldier who tried to shoot Julia was David's friend and this raises an alarm. They're convinced that Budd was indeed behind the bombing. Budd wakes up alone and realizes that he is strapped to a bomb vest with his thumb taped to the activating button. He is unaware that he is currently being investigated by the police and uses someone's phone to call for...
Post a Comment
Read more

Goodbye Mike & Rachel- Suits' Seventh Season Finale Review

  Suits is one of my favorite Legal Drama's and for some reason, I'm still very invested in the show after 7 seasons. I don't think they've had any bad season and they've done such a great job with the growth and development of the major characters but the time to say goodbye to Mike and Rachel was finally here. Due to the fact that Meghan Markle would be getting married to Prince Harry, I guess it was a good time to wrap up her love story with Mike and they do this with the fairy tale wedding we've all been waiting for. Mike and Rachel have been an item since the first season and have been engaged since the fifth. They would have been married a season ago but were not able to because of Mike's time in prison. I always loved their chemistry and I was so sad to see them say goodbye and more than anything, I loved Mike and Harvey's relationship. It was so genuine and pure. The two final episodes of the final season of Suits aired back to back and...
Post a Comment
Read more

SUITS: Season 6 finale

        The 6th season of suits has been quite an emotional one with Mike's would be wedding with Rachel, his going to Prison and Rachel's death row case. Death row cases can get really sad especially if the suspect is innocent which was the case of Leonard Bailey (Glenn Plummer) who was accused of murdering two people. After staying behind bars for 12 years, Leonard Bailey was finally exonerated with the help of Rachel and Jessica (Gina Torres). During this episode, a major character said goodbye to the show. Gina Torres decided to leave Suits to film another TV Show 'Catch' and it was quite emotional. This episode showed a different side of Jessica Pearson, she put her pro Bono case first before the firm and fought for the freedom of Leonard Bailey.          Gina Torres will no longer be a series regular and I was happy her character wasn't killed off like Will Gardner in the Good Wife, (I c...
1 comment
Read more