The 60th BFI London Film Festival will take place 5-16 October 2016, and I will watchsome of the most interesting movies of the upcoming Fall season. Let's start with my point of view on "A United Kingdom".
A United Kingdom: the story behind this historical union
Do you know that feeling, when everything seems to be kind of perfect, but it is, actually not? This fake resemblance of perfection is one of the main issues of this adaptation of the inspiring Susan William's story Colour Bar. A United Kingdom is a movie directed by Amma Asante and starring Selma's David Oyelowo and Gone Girl's Rosamund Pike as the king and queen of the nowadays Botswana.
The cast includes Harry Potter's Tom Felton, Jessica Oyelowo and Jack Davenport. It tells this difficult and inspiring love story between a black African royal heir and a common British woman. This tender couple will have to face so many obstacles caused by racism, colonialism and ignorance. The British governement and Seretse's uncle don't approve this "odd" marriage and they will try, unsuccessfully, to tear them apart.
Can love conquer them all?
The ideology and the message of the movie are really touching and emotional. We don't have to live in the '40s or in Africa in order to understand what racism and fear of the different look like. Homophobia,xenophobia and discriminationsare more relevant than even in the social networks era, which is increasing awareness on these terrible and eternal social plagues.
So, we may definitely relate to these characters, but once again A United Kingdom was too didactic.
A United Kingdom is not a trainwreck, but it still lacks of genuine emotions
Two years ago Ava DuVernay's Selma touchedmy heart so deeply, that I missed the same feeling in the Assante's depiction of this true story. She decided to shoot the movie in the actual locations and as a consequence, the photography of these scenarios is incredible, but Assante's Film still lacks of that spark which makes you thrill to, such stuff as dreams are ofas Shakespeare wrote.
"A United Kingdom" is not a trainwreck: it is rather entertaining and heartwarming. The cast delivers great performances, but if you look for an emotional thought-provoking ride, you are going to end up being disappointed. Sometimes less is better.
Don't miss my follow-up article with the exclusive review of Barry Jenkins' Moonlight and many more to come. Have a look at the "A United Kingdom" trailer:
