On the first sight it may seem a story inspired by David Oyelow's life. He does belong to a royal family and is married to a beautiful white woman, Jessica Oyelowo (nee Watson). But this film is actually based on a true-life romance between an English office clerk Rose played by Rosamund Pike and the future king of Botswana, King Seretse Khama, played by David Oyelowo is a stunning romantic story in the hands of director Amma Asante (“Belle”). It makes sense why he felt so connected to the story, besides his passion to tell stories of string black male characters. So, for film producer and lead actor David Oyelowo his six year passion to bring the powerful true story of African King Seretse Khama to the U.S. has finally materialized with “A United Kingdom.”
Based on extraordinary true events the film is set in 1947 when the bright university student, Seretse Khama [the King of Botswana] meets the young Ruth Williams at a London dance. It was clear that they were perfectly matched and yet their proposed marriage was challenged by everyone near and dear to them and then it grew from bad to worse when the British and South African governments decided to intervene in the name of “political” stability.
When the two governments begin to apply pressure the uproar surrounding an African prince’s marriage to an Englishwoman, on the eve of South Africa enacting its evil apartheid laws which would eventually separate blacks and whites, made their situation a political rally call for justice.
This film is essential viewing because love dared to challenge hate and love won. Based on Susan William’s book Colour Bar this simple story about two people who just wanted a life, together, in peace directly influenced the outcome of British and African history.
As the heir to the kingdom of Bechuanaland (later Botswana) this man later becomes his country’s first democratically elected president. As a producer Oyelowo, who memorably portrayed American leader Martin Luther King Jr. in “Selma,” has been carefully nurturing this film for over six years. And in his own way “A United Kingdom” is itself a political statement and relevant today. The evil of apartheid is rooted in the evil of exclusion and feed by fear. The facts, at the time, were the facts and the law. The English government controlled Bechuanaland as a British Protectorate and to that end, they sided with the morally bankrupt South African government who made it clear that they would not accept a happy, mixed-marriage royal couple living on its border. If you dare take the temperature of America’s current political climate it would show familiar tell-tale signs of the cancer that is intolerance.
The opposition send Seretse into exile as Parliament and two prime ministers maneuver the African chessboard and husband and wife, Ruth and Seretse, are bullied by many apparently “invincible” forces. Yet in the face of such hatred and threatening behavior their peaceful but obstinate refusal to give up leads to the film’s rousing final scene.
This is great filmmaking and director Amma Asante makes the end result lookand feel effortless. Her eye for detail elevates every frame and her gentle way with actors, leaves them room to do what they do best, and that’s find the characters and move the story correctly. She’s one of the best storytellers working today and the result as witnessed in “A United Kingdom” highlights this film as a modern masterpiece.
Now Playing: “A United Kingdom” produced and starring David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Terry Pheto. Directed by Amma Assante. Based on the book Colour Bar by by Susan William.
