A United Kingdom – Film Review by Pat V.

Director: Amma Asante
Writer: Guy Hibbert (screenplay)
Stars: David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Jack Davenport

Director Amma Asante’s latest film tells the stranger-than fiction true story of Seretse Khama, heir to the throne of Botswana, (then a British Protectorate called Bechuanaland), who in 1947 married a woman not only out of his tribe, but a white, British woman. Reminiscent of the romance of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, which had led to his forced abdication from the throne of the United Kingdom ten years earlier, Seretse is put under intense pressure to choose either his throne or his wife. But unlike Edward, Seretse can see no reason why he should not have both and the film tells of his struggle with the British government and with elements within his own people to achieve this dream.

The film shows England in 1947 as a grim place to live, slowly recovering from the ravages of WW2. When Seretse Khama arrives in London to pursue legal studies, he not only has to cope with rationing and the day-to-day struggles of most Londoners, but also the very overt racism which many black people had to face. One of the few safe places where blacks and whites could meet was at social gatherings organised by missionary societies and it was at one of these that Seretse met 25 year old, Ruth Williams. Sharing a love of dancing and jazz, the two were instantly attracted and married a year later, in spite of strong opposition from both families and the British government.

Asante’s film tells their story and also shows the duplicitous behaviour of the British government to deprive Seretse of his throne and to separate the young couple. Shot in sumptuous colour, the first part of the film, charting the budding relationship of Seretse (David Oyelowo) and Ruth (Rosamund Pike) is a little bland and has a touch of Mills and Boon about it. There are the predictable scenes of a confrontation with racist thugs in the street as the two walk hand-in-hand, the outrage of Ruth’s father (Nicholas Lyndhurst) at the idea of a mixed-race marriage and the attempts of Seretse’s uncle, Tshekedi (Vusi Kunene), to convince him that this marriage would damage his country.

It is only when the political machinations of British diplomat, Alistair Canning (played by Jack Davenport giving a performance guaranteed to make the skin crawl), come into play that film really takes off. Canning and the British representative in Bechuanaland, Rufus Lancaster (Tom Felton), concerned that this mixed marriage will affect their relations with the South African government which was about to introduce its apartheid laws, connive to separate the couple and to bring Seretse’s reign to an end.

More Out of Africa than Mandela, A United Kingdom is visually stunning and well acted but lacks the punch of real political drama. It is an interesting tale of a sordid incident which the British establishment prefers to forget, but the film rarely rises above the level of a well told love story. The closing credits tell us that Seretse Khama was later knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and became first president of the newly independent Botswana in 1967. His wife achieved renown for her humanitarian and educational work and their son, Ian, is the current President of Botswana.