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IMDbPro

A United Kingdom

  • 20162016
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
16K
YOUR RATING
David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike in A United Kingdom (2016)
Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana causes an international stir when he marries a white woman from London in the late 1940s.
Play trailer2:24
24 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History
The story of King Seretse Khama of Botswana and how his loving but controversial marriage to a British white woman, Ruth Williams, put his kingdom into political and diplomatic turmoil.The story of King Seretse Khama of Botswana and how his loving but controversial marriage to a British white woman, Ruth Williams, put his kingdom into political and diplomatic turmoil.The story of King Seretse Khama of Botswana and how his loving but controversial marriage to a British white woman, Ruth Williams, put his kingdom into political and diplomatic turmoil.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
16K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Amma Asante
  • Writers
    • Guy Hibbert(screenplay by)
    • Susan Williams(based upon the book 'Colour Bar' by)
  • Stars
    • David Oyelowo
    • Rosamund Pike
    • Tom Felton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Amma Asante
  • Writers
    • Guy Hibbert(screenplay by)
    • Susan Williams(based upon the book 'Colour Bar' by)
  • Stars
    • David Oyelowo
    • Rosamund Pike
    • Tom Felton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 90User reviews
    • 166Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos24

    U.S. Trailer
    Trailer 2:24
    U.S. Trailer
    International Trailer
    Trailer 2:27
    International Trailer
    A United Kingdom
    Trailer 2:24
    A United Kingdom
    Exiled
    Clip 1:11
    Exiled
    Kgotla Speech
    Clip 1:08
    Kgotla Speech
    First Meeting With Tshekedi
    Clip 1:13
    First Meeting With Tshekedi
    Proposal
    Clip 1:45
    Proposal
    "Legacy"
    Featurette 3:40
    "Legacy"
    A United Kingdom
    Featurette 2:32
    A United Kingdom
    Jack Davenport
    Interview 5:22
    Jack Davenport
    Laura Carmichael
    Interview 6:36
    Laura Carmichael
    Amma Asante
    Interview 6:06
    Amma Asante

    Photos163

    David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike in A United Kingdom (2016)
    David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike in A United Kingdom (2016)
    A United Kingdom (2016)
    A United Kingdom (2016)
    A United Kingdom (2016)
    A United Kingdom (2016)
    David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike in A United Kingdom (2016)
    David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike in A United Kingdom (2016)
    David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike in A United Kingdom (2016)
    David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike in A United Kingdom (2016)
    A United Kingdom (2016)
    A United Kingdom (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Oyelowo
    David Oyelowo
    • Seretse Khama
    Rosamund Pike
    Rosamund Pike
    • Ruth Williams
    Tom Felton
    Tom Felton
    • Rufus Lancaster
    Jack Davenport
    Jack Davenport
    • Sir Alistair Canning
    Laura Carmichael
    Laura Carmichael
    • Muriel Williams
    Terry Pheto
    Terry Pheto
    • Naledi Khama
    Jessica Oyelowo
    Jessica Oyelowo
    • Lady Lilly Canning
    Vusi Kunene
    Vusi Kunene
    • Tshekedi Khama
    Nicholas Lyndhurst
    Nicholas Lyndhurst
    • George Williams
    Arnold Oceng
    Arnold Oceng
    • Charles
    Anastasia Hille
    Anastasia Hille
    • Dot Williams
    Charlotte Hope
    Charlotte Hope
    • Olivia Lancaster
    Theo Landey
    Theo Landey
    • Michael Nash
    Abena Ayivor
    Abena Ayivor
    • Ella Khama
    Jack Lowden
    Jack Lowden
    • Tony Benn
    Zackary Momoh
    Zackary Momoh
    • Oluwu
    Nicholas Rowe
    Nicholas Rowe
    • Fenner Brockway
    Billy Boyle
    • Reverend James Manners
    • Director
      • Amma Asante
    • Writers
      • Guy Hibbert(screenplay by)
      • Susan Williams(based upon the book 'Colour Bar' by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The house used as Ruth & Seretse's home in the film was the home of the real Ruth & Seretse.
    • Goofs
      At about 1'17, the civil servant refers to the new Prime Minister as Sir Winston Churchill. He was not knighted until 1953.
    • Quotes

      Seretse Khama: [From trailer] No man is free who is not master of himself.

    • Connections
      Featured in Film '72: Episode #45.8 (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      No Baby, No Nobody But You
      Lyrics and Music by Seger Ellis

      Performed by Stan Kenton and June Christy

      Published by EMI United Partnership Ltd/EMI Music Publishing Ltd

      Licensed Courtesy of Capitol Records Inc.

      Under Licence from Universal Music Operations Ltd

    User reviews90

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Beautiful telling of a fascinating and important true story
    The story of Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams is a fascinating one, and is of a good deal of importance and relevance now. 'A United Kingdom', which had such potential from the get go with the talent involved, doesn't disappoint and tells this story beautifully.

    Admittedly, this kind of story has a fair few potential traps with the themes displayed, being very difficult to get the right tonal balance and to get it completely right. 'A United Kingdom' could easily have been preachy and over-sentimental with any messaging laid on too thick, any feel-good-factors coming over as corny, characters being one-dimensional and too black and white and the sentimentality being too hard to stomach. Luckily, almost all of those traps are avoided, making 'A United Kingdom a truly absorbing and moving film.

    Do agree completely with all but one of the positive reviews, and can understand totally why some may not be as enamoured with it. Usually don't comment on previous reviews, as strictly it's not really supposed to be done here but is frequently done by many, but I too take issue with the content and tone of the top rated review, which is not a review and more a quite incoherent condemnation towards those who rate it low, with ridiculous conspiracy theories that do completely against what 'A United Kingdom' is really about. The number of 1 star ratings in a short space of time may raise eyebrows and can easily be questioned, even if the film didn't do much for me because the production values, directing, storytelling and acting are so well done and what it set out to do is to be admired it would not get less than a 4 or 5. This is all personal opinion of course, and do apologise for the irrelevance.

    'A United Kingdom' is not perfect. Some of the dialogue at the beginning is too in your face and forced and the acting of the extras is a little dodgy agreed, can definitely see why anybody may be put off from continuing. Can also understand any criticisms of the supporting characters (the two lead characters are very compelling and beautifully written characters) being one-dimensional and too neatly black and white, the villains especially.

    However, 'A United Kingdom' does look absolutely gorgeous, the period detail evocative, the scenery a feast for the eyes from the darker and more drab London location to the sweeping and colourful Botswana ones. Amma Asante directs remarkably and with assurance. Patrick Doyle provides another winner of a music score, coming from someone who has liked a lot of what he's done, full of beauty and emotional power in an understated way.

    While not all the script works, much of it is intelligent and thought-provoking, never taking on too much of a heavy-handed tone while making its point clearly, having much to say about the conflicts and explores and balances them with skill and the over-sentimentality never obviously creeps in. The story is beautifully and absorbingly told, told with sensitivity, tension dealt with subtlety but also hard-hitting power and poignant emotion. Seretse and Ruth's love is evident throughout, David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike's chemistry resonating believably and, even when apart in large stretches of the film, disconnect never creeps in despite the potential to.

    Great performances all round, apart from reservations about the extras. Oyelowo plays Seretse with towering dignity and passionate sensitivity, his speeches very moving in a gut-wrenching and powerful sense. Pike, fresh from her exceptional career-best performance in the brilliant 'Gone Girl', gives one of her best performances and certainly more than just eye-candy (being one of the most naturally gorgeous actresses today), playing Ruth with calmness, sensitivity and commanding steel, Ruth's progressive attitude to race admirably portrayed and got under the skin well.

    Jack Davenport makes for a slimy diplomat, and Tom Felton (who could easily have been out of place, was admittedly expecting him to be) is surprisingly effective and a long way from lightweight. Anastasia Hille and Nicholas Lyndhurst portray Ruth's parents' disapproval very well, Arnold Oceng is very good and there is a quite powerful scene with Pike and the very emotive actress who portrays the mother-in-law.

    Not without its issues, but in summary 'A United Kingdom' is a very good film, telling a fascinating and important true story beautifully. 8/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•28
    8
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Nov 27, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 10, 2017 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Czech Republic
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Tswana
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Aşkın Krallığı
    • Filming locations
      • Serowe, Botswana
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • Pathe UK
      • Pathé
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $14,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,902,185
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $66,510
      • Feb 12, 2017
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,459,330
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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