Directed by: Amma Asante
Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson, Matthew Goode, and Miranda Richardson
I know it sounds funny but if ‘Jane Austin’ and ‘Downton Abbey’ had a mixed-race child out of wedlock, this film would be that child. Belle is a film in it’s own class, not a drawing room tale but rather you’ll find it to be an exceptional movie experience at the hands of some great filmmakers.
Belle is the true tale of an illegitimate ‘daughter/slave’ female in the mid-1700’s England, who is taken in by the upper crust family of her father and the subsequent consequences of that action. It’s a touching, often infuriating, and entertainingly intellectual telling of the slave experience during the height of the slave trade in a country whose economy at the time depended upon that business.
Here’s the storyline:
Inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Mbatha-Raw), the film charts the life of the illegitimate mixed race daughter of Admiral John Lindsay. Being raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield (Wilkinson) and his wife, Belle’s lineage affords her certain privileges, yet her status and color prevents her from enjoying the traditions of a noble social standing. While her cousin Elizabeth (Gadon) chases suitors for marriage, Belle is left on the sidelines wondering if she will ever find love. After meeting an idealistic young vicar’s son bent on changing society, he and Belle try to influence Lord Mansfield’s role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England.
What makes this story so compelling, aside from the fact that it’ true, is that we’ve never seen a story quite like it before. Yes, there have been tales about women held almost captive by their upper class families, but never one where the female was held captive by her color and the people who try to understand the meaning of it, set against the rest of their society. It is a fresh telling of the story, and it works on all levels.
The performances are all first rate, and the film itself has a look you would generally expect from a Merchant Ivory film (Howard’s End, The Remains of the Day). The Oxford born lead actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw is a wonder, becoming Dido instead of just playing her. Every emotion, raw or otherwise, even when there’s not supposed to be one, is always present on her face or in her beautifully questioning eyes. It’s surely the sign of a brilliant performance. The film however, takes its strength from Tom Wilkinson, whose gruff and stiff lipped upper-class performance is another masterpiece to be added to his already sterling resume.
So, my take on the film; If you like English period pieces blended with fresh and important historical information, brought to you in a beautiful wrapper with great acting, this is definitely your film. It looks great on the big screen and should be seen in that medium. Don’t miss the Belle!
