***/**** (3.5 stars)
When Prince Seretse Khama falls in love with a working class white woman, Ruth Williams, the pair have little idea of the international implications of their union.
A little known story of a love that defied the odds at a time of immense political strife, A United Kingdom tells the tale of Prince Khama (David Oyelowo), heir to the throne in modern-day Botswana, and his wife, Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike), who leaves her home to travel to her husband's homeland. Perfectly capturing the racial discrimination and tyranny of British colonial rule, Amma Asante's latest is as much about love as it is about hatred, with the smug middle class white man (personified by Jack Davenport and Tom Felton) certainly coming off worse. Asante excels at portraying the unjust political system that is desperate to prevent Seretse and Ruth from being together, leaving the audience feeling enraged and disgusted at the injustices being depicted on screen. The film looks authentic too, with post-war London and the rural lifestyle of Botswana showcasing timely details, from the clothes, to the cars and radiograms.
One part love story, one party damning indictment of British colonial rule, A United Kingdom treads a difficult line between romance and political drama, and does not always succeed in balancing the two. Indeed, for a majority of the film, our two central lovers are apart, thwarted by politics at every turn - just when it seems to be going right, another governmental upset keeps them apart. In the end, it is this international climate of 'diplomacy' that is the most interesting part of the film, with our two lovers becoming apparently side-lined. It also doesn't help that Seretse and Ruth are two 'too good to be true' characters - both good, just and level-headed at all times. Despite everything, they remain completely in love, and never once argue, a fact that seems wholly unrealistic considering Ruth has up-ended her life in England to come to the arid heart of Africa. Maybe I am just a pessimist...
Like Asante's last film, Belle, A United Kingdom is Austen-esque in its depiction of love conquering all, despite the circumstances and the attempts to keep two lovers apart. Similarly to Austen it, despite it's flaws and inconsistencies, manages to win the audience over with its good-hearted nature, black humour and likable leads. Not a classic, but a sweetly enjoyable (if wholly enraging at times) film.
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