Let love lead
Bakang Israel | Friday January 13, 2017 14:01
If you are into history ,then A United Kingdom might just be the energiser for your old-school taste buds. This film caused a stir when it first hit the screens two months back in October 2016 at New Capitol cinemas to a selected few that included President Ian Khama.
It caused frenzy with expensive P1,000 single premiere ticket sales that swung the weight to the brim as more enthusiasts began to eagerly queue up for the December premiere with raging anticipation. Finally the show is here, and in this story love breaking all barriers becomes the focal area of attention. Events begin to unfold because of this catalyst Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana, causes an international stir when he marries a white woman from London in the late 1940s at the time when colonisation was still dominant in Africa.
This caused uproar both within the black African community, particularly with the Bangwato tribe as well as the English community, mainly the British, and other oppressors that ruled other African states in Rhodesia and the then apartheid South Africa.
The biography dazzles with cast members from Hollywood that portray the former president and first lady of Botswana. Superstars from hit Hollywood films like Gone Girl (2014) shine bright. There are few Batswana actors like Donald Molosi and acclaimed My Star show judge Kgomotso Delia Tshwenyego who are given minor roles to support South African film stars such as Terry Pheto and Vusi Kunene from Tsotsi and Isibaya who got a big slice of the pie scooping major roles. The film is directed by Amma Asante and I believe this was the director’s reincarnation masterpiece.
Action
First of all, this film is a great tourism attraction tool for the now developed Bechuanaland Protectorate protégée currently acclaimed, as one of the most tranquil nations. One thing you get to appreciate about this film is that it is in the same mold as The Long Walk to Freedom starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon that sensitised the audience on South African heritage from the apartheid era to the current democracy, though A United Kingdom taps on Botswana’s culture. It joins a few other big screen masterpieces like The Gods Must Be Crazy and Mma Ramotswe- The Number One Ladies Detective that saw TV stars such as Jill Scott thrill the audience portraying Botswana culture to the world.
In this film one gets to experience Botswana’s struggle on the road to Independence at first hand and some untold events are revealed. For the younger generation who never had a chance to experience Seretse’s reign of power, David Oyelo’s character paints him as a very learned man that used his awareness efficiently against a white supremacy regime to win the hearts of the people not only from his tribe. The film gets sentimental as a young man deeply in love, expresses his love interest that though he loves her he still has fears for her because of this intimate union. The very same situations some people find themselves in similar predicaments, where by you are afraid to introduce your partner to your loved ones only because of acceptance issues.
This biography also wrestles with racial discrimination, stigma, political unrest, democracy, love, unity and family amongst other social themes. After watching this you realise how our forefathers experienced the bittersweet sour unforgiving life during the 1940s to 60s. A United Kingdom magnifies how the British tried to manipulate the late former president to surrender his heart and power of free will to bootlick the devil.
Though I was not there in the 1940s, as the script rolled I fell in love with Seretse Khama, the liberator. I also had the privilege to consult an elderly person who was present during this political turmoil, one Agnes Mutabi to affirm the legitimacy of this plot, and indeed the old lady described a rich lecture as to how the former president won the hearts of the people with his smooth intelligence quotient (IQ) at the time that all black leaders were submissive.
Bechuanaland Protectorate traded in British pounds from the 1950’s to early 60s, and then the British military that we see in A United Kingdom descended on our land back in 1963 before vacating six years later. It also came to light that Jack Davenport (Alistair Canning)’s threats from the British to the young prince that his disobedience may provoke other neighbouring countries also turned into reality in 1977 when Ian Smith’s Rhodesia regime bombed Francistown causing residents to take refuge in the Tati river. However all that later subsided because of Seretse.
I kid you not when I say this is a very delightful tale about the evolution of this diamond hub southern African state. It showcases a true vintage African cinematography, depicting the rural Tswana mud huts, pottery culture as well as the birthplace of the Khama bloodline, which was fascinating to watch in a Hollywood piece. I appreciate this film because it embraced Batswana as Hollywood stars spoke our native language. As a matter of fact it was funny watching Oyelo and Pike mention words such as “Kealeboga mma”. This Amma Asante motion picture is also wonderful as it epitomises the proverb that reflects that divided we fall, but united we stand as seen in the movie when a royal family was in disarray which then invited vulnerability and weakness for potential enemies to strike.
Quotes from the movie
Alistair Canning- This union may allow South Africa to annex Bechuanaland
New Movies_ Autobots and fantasy fans brace yourselves for yet another Deception and Autobots duel, as Mark Wahlberg will again be in the thick of things in Transformers: The Last Knight. The trailer is out and the film looks menacing. This latest edition is bound to hit the streets sometime in June 2017, director Michael Bay is busy crafting another Optimus Prime and Megatron conflict that always enthuses action addicts.
Reception
Judging by local box office results only, since the film is still scheduled for release next year February in the US, the exclusive premiere back in October where tickets sold for P1,000 to fill up the 90 seat capacity theatre to the rafters, logic suggests that the film made a killing. On top of that, the December public premiere, which has been much anticipated, saw a huge turnout at cinemas. Also, according to Yours Truly, the film looks set to be a firecracker at US box office as Rosamund Pike’s performances are forever flattering. She played the role of an African wife with panache, even speaking Setswana eloquently.
Movie: A United Kingdom
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Duration: 1hour 51mins
Age Restriction: 13
Release Date: December 14th 2016
Director: Amma Asante
Main Stars: David Oyelowo (Seretse Khama),
Rosamund Pike (Ruth Williams), Vusi Kunene (Tshekedi Khama), Terry Pheto (Naledi Khama)
Top five movies in the world currently
1. Hidden Figures
2. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
3. Sing
4. Underworld: Blood Wars
5. La La Land
Ratings
This is undoubtedly a delightful historical tale, it reminds one of other struggle epics like Sarafina. I highly recommend it with a thumping 9/10 as it educates us the young generation.