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Title: A United Kingdom (2016)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| David Oyelowo | ... | Seretse Khama | |
| Rosamund Pike | ... | Ruth Williams | |
| Tom Felton | ... | Rufus Lancaster | |
| Jack Davenport | ... | Sir Alistair Canning | |
| Laura Carmichael | ... | Muriel Williams | |
| Terry Pheto | ... | Naledi Khama | |
| Jessica Oyelowo | ... | Lady Lilly Canning | |
| Vusi Kunene | ... | Tshekedi Khama | |
| Nicholas Lyndhurst | ... | George Williams | |
| Arnold Oceng | ... | Charles | |
| Anastasia Hille | ... | Dot Williams | |
| Charlotte Hope | ... | Olivia Lancaster | |
| Theo Landey | ... | Michael Nash | |
| Abena Ayivor | ... | Ella Khama | |
| Jack Lowden | ... | Tony Benn | |
In the late 1940s, Prince Seretse Khama of Bechuanaland is studying law in Britain in preparation for his eventual ascension to the throne. There, the dashing prince falls in love with a white British clerk, Ruth Williams, and they plan to marry. While they suspect that his uncle, the Regent, would disapprove, nothing prepares them for the diplomatic firestorm and domestic political tumult their defiant love would spark. Now facing a citizenry leery of a white Briton as their Queen, the international opposition is even more unyielding from the British holding their land as a protectorate and fearful of South Africa's racist backlash to this affront to their apartheid domination. Against all odds, King Khama and Ruth must struggle to maintain their love and help their people in a land that would become the Republic of Botswana. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
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In the hands of a lesser director than the hugely talented Amma Asante, "A United Kingdom" might have been nothing more than another inter-racial romance cloaked in a veil of sickly sentimentality but, like "Belle" before it, this remarkable film works both as a genuinely moving love story but, more significantly, as a powerful political tract that draws attention to a very shameful period in recent British history with neither the Tory nor Labour governments coming out of it smelling of roses.
It is the story of Seretse Khama, heir to the throne of Bechuanaland, now Botswana, who, while a student in London, fell in love with and married Ruth Williams, English and, more crucially, white bringing her back to his homeland as his queen, much to the chagrin and disapproval of both the British and South African governments and his own people. However, like all good love stories, if not quite all fairy tales, Ruth's tenacity soon wins over the people of Bechuanaland while the jaundiced, racist government of the UK proves a somewhat greater obstacle.
The events portrayed in the film actually took place but until now haven't't been much discussed here in the UK. Even today inter-racial love stories can be unpopular and sadly racism remains a major issue that has yet to be eradicated. It is testament to both Seretse and to Ruth that their actions were finally instrumental in bringing democracy to Botswana with Seretse renouncing his kingship and becoming the first democratically elected president of his country.
In these roles both David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike are superb and there is sterling work from an outstanding supporting cast. If the feelgood factor seems at times a tad on the heavy side in Guy Hibbert's screenplay it is still heartening to see a movie about love and about race that is largely unsentimental and politically astute. It is also gorgeously shot by Sam McCurdy and is a credit to all involved.