Director Amma Asante will win hearts with Belle, a historical romance that is sure to get some nods of approval. Set in 18th century England, Belle is based on the true story of Dido Elizabeth (played by Gugu Mbatha Raw), the illegitimate daughter of Sir John Lindsay, an admiral in the Royal Navy. Her mother was black, and her father was white, which makes Dido's position in society a precarious one: her father puts her under the care of her extended family, Lord Chief Justice and Lady Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson), and the family vows to treat her with the respect that her blood dictates... but because of her skin color, there are limits when it comes to the public eye. Dido grows up as an equal to her cousin, Elizabeth (her "sister", for all intents and purposes), but when company comes calling, she is asked to eat separately from the family and join them after dinner. She begins to question such matters after her father dies, leaving her an inheritance... but her uncle explains to her that even in a society where money controls everything, people are easily swayed by other factors.
Lord Mansfield has taken on a very relevant court case: a trade ship has thrown the slaves it was transporting out, claiming that there wasn't enough water remaining on board for the crew, but the insurance company still wants the money for the cargo. Aspiring lawyer John Davinier (Sam Reid) begs Lord Mansfield to rule against the cargo traders, reminding him that it wasn't just cargo that was thrown over, it was human beings; but Lord Mansfield worries that the public will view his relationship with Dido as a bias that has tampered with his judgment. Dido, however, sides with Mr. Davinier, and tensions, emotions, and Dido's self awareness as a young black woman rise as their relationship grows (needless to say, the reason this is a historical romance lies in this relationship).
Belle tackles the issue of racism, but the issue of women's rights gets tangled up in the plot as well, basically making this film a poster child for human rights. The story alone is a reason to bring the whole family to see this film... it has a good message, and it's a pretty straightforward, solid plot. The film also gets some points for its acting... Gugu leads the cast with an amazing performance, and I look forward to seeing her in future films. The only negative thing I have to say about Belle is that it doesn't take many risks in its execution. Cinematically, it's beautifully made, but it's nothing you haven't seen before... the cinematography is very natural and clear-cut, and the subject matter is a surefire "yes" for anyone in the audience. It is clear that Amma Asante has made a fine film with Belle, but my hope is that the next film she makes will not only get us on board, but "wow" us.
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