Belle (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
'Belle' (directed by Amma Asante) is inspired by the true story of Dido Belle, the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of Admiral Sir John Lindsay (Matthew Goode). In 1769, this Admiral, who is about to go back to sea, takes his young Dido to live with his aristocratic uncle, Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson), who happens to be the highest Chief Justice in all of England, and his imperious wife (Emily Watson). Although it is Dido's birthright to live there, her aunt & uncle are constantly forced to deal with the inherent racism & scandalous gossip of their peers who are stunned at the presence of this black young woman who is raised as a white. Also living on the grounds is Lord Mansfield's other abandoned niece, Elizabeth. The girls are raised like sisters. They love each other. And the only time Dido is treated differently is when guests come for dinner; she is not permitted to eat with them all, but can join them in the parlor afterwards.
At one point, Dido "Belle" says to her uncle, "I am too high to eat with the servants, & too low to eat with you at dinner" (so she knows something is not right about her upbringing). Despite the prejudice she must face, Dido (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) grows into a smart & beautiful young woman. When her father dies at sea, she inherits a fortune from him. She and her loving cousin Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) have grown up together & are extremely close. However, their relationship is put to the test. Dido is left on the sidelines during "the season" to watch her cousin chase suitors for marriage. And yet, despite her race, Dido's lineage/wealth gives her the privilege of being able to marry whoever she chooses, whereas Elizabeth must marry well in order to secure her future status in society. When the pushy Lady Ashford (a biting Miranda Richardson) learns that Dido has $$, she allows her seemingly gallant son Oliver to court her.
Her other son James (Tom Felton, of Harry Potter fame) toys with the idea of courting Elizabeth, but receds when discovering her lack of 'property'. In one of the film's more potent scenes, James manhandles Dido; letting her know the fierce racist hatred that he & other members of the upper class have for her. On the other hand, this story also offers us John Davinier (Sam Reid), the son of a vicar, who is serving as Lord Mansfield's legal apprentice. This idealistic gentleman falls deeply in love with Dido, but she delays courtship until she knows more about the case he and her uncle are locking horns on: the Zong massacre of 1791 in which 142 disease-ridden African slaves were tossed into the sea from a ship & drowned so that the owners might claim insurance for their damaged "cargo". Hell bent on changing society, John Davinier & Belle {in secret} help shape Lord Mansfield's pivotal role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England.
Amma Asante (a black woman) has created a film which honors the life of the real woman who inspired the story with sensitivity & insight about the role of blacks & women in 18th c. England. The titular character must face issues of race, gender, class, & she does it all with grace. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is mesmerizing; giving a touching, thoughtful performance as the conflicted Belle. Tom Wilkinson is superb {when isn't he?} as Lord Mansfield. Emily Watson provides strong support as the stern, but loving aunt. Penelope Wilton (Mrs. Crawley on Downton Abbey) provides genial comic relief as spinster Aunt Mary. Sarah Gadon (so good in 2011's A Dangerous Method) is affecting as cousin, Elizabeth. And Sam Reid is excellent as John Davinier. I loved his impassioned, "Human beings cannot be priced. Humans are priceless". He & Gugu share wonderful chemistry onscreen, and you really pull for their romance to come through in the end.
From its intriguing opening (where the Admiral rescues his little black girl from squalor) to the uplifting conclusion, 'Belle' provides an appealing old-school costume drama. Set in the 1700s, the film is adorned with beautiful, authentic-looking sets, outfits, wigs, & other assorted sophistications. And director Asante gives us some powerful images, as well. I'm reminded of the heartbreaking scene where Belle stares into a mirror with tears in her eyes and tries to literally beat the black skin off of her chest & face. Some audiences may find this movie to be too trite or too well-meaning or too Downton Abbey-ish. Heck, some might even say that it exists to give white characters moments of social conscience. But I found it to be a stirring drama that is curiously contemporary in its depiction of race issues, class distinctions, & gender inequality. It's also just a beautiful, romantic story about 2 soul mates forging a love in the most difficult of situations.
At one point, Dido "Belle" says to her uncle, "I am too high to eat with the servants, & too low to eat with you at dinner" (so she knows something is not right about her upbringing). Despite the prejudice she must face, Dido (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) grows into a smart & beautiful young woman. When her father dies at sea, she inherits a fortune from him. She and her loving cousin Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) have grown up together & are extremely close. However, their relationship is put to the test. Dido is left on the sidelines during "the season" to watch her cousin chase suitors for marriage. And yet, despite her race, Dido's lineage/wealth gives her the privilege of being able to marry whoever she chooses, whereas Elizabeth must marry well in order to secure her future status in society. When the pushy Lady Ashford (a biting Miranda Richardson) learns that Dido has $$, she allows her seemingly gallant son Oliver to court her.
Her other son James (Tom Felton, of Harry Potter fame) toys with the idea of courting Elizabeth, but receds when discovering her lack of 'property'. In one of the film's more potent scenes, James manhandles Dido; letting her know the fierce racist hatred that he & other members of the upper class have for her. On the other hand, this story also offers us John Davinier (Sam Reid), the son of a vicar, who is serving as Lord Mansfield's legal apprentice. This idealistic gentleman falls deeply in love with Dido, but she delays courtship until she knows more about the case he and her uncle are locking horns on: the Zong massacre of 1791 in which 142 disease-ridden African slaves were tossed into the sea from a ship & drowned so that the owners might claim insurance for their damaged "cargo". Hell bent on changing society, John Davinier & Belle {in secret} help shape Lord Mansfield's pivotal role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England.
Amma Asante (a black woman) has created a film which honors the life of the real woman who inspired the story with sensitivity & insight about the role of blacks & women in 18th c. England. The titular character must face issues of race, gender, class, & she does it all with grace. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is mesmerizing; giving a touching, thoughtful performance as the conflicted Belle. Tom Wilkinson is superb {when isn't he?} as Lord Mansfield. Emily Watson provides strong support as the stern, but loving aunt. Penelope Wilton (Mrs. Crawley on Downton Abbey) provides genial comic relief as spinster Aunt Mary. Sarah Gadon (so good in 2011's A Dangerous Method) is affecting as cousin, Elizabeth. And Sam Reid is excellent as John Davinier. I loved his impassioned, "Human beings cannot be priced. Humans are priceless". He & Gugu share wonderful chemistry onscreen, and you really pull for their romance to come through in the end.
From its intriguing opening (where the Admiral rescues his little black girl from squalor) to the uplifting conclusion, 'Belle' provides an appealing old-school costume drama. Set in the 1700s, the film is adorned with beautiful, authentic-looking sets, outfits, wigs, & other assorted sophistications. And director Asante gives us some powerful images, as well. I'm reminded of the heartbreaking scene where Belle stares into a mirror with tears in her eyes and tries to literally beat the black skin off of her chest & face. Some audiences may find this movie to be too trite or too well-meaning or too Downton Abbey-ish. Heck, some might even say that it exists to give white characters moments of social conscience. But I found it to be a stirring drama that is curiously contemporary in its depiction of race issues, class distinctions, & gender inequality. It's also just a beautiful, romantic story about 2 soul mates forging a love in the most difficult of situations.