A United Kingdom
A United Kingdom
PG-13 | 10 February 2017 (USA)
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The inspiring true story of Seretse Khama, the King of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), and Ruth Williams, the London office worker he married in 1948 in the face of fierce opposition from their families and the British and South African governments. Seretse and Ruth defied family, Apartheid and empire - their love triumphed over every obstacle flung in their path and in so doing they transformed their nation and inspired the world.

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Perry Kate

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

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Huievest

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

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Patience Watson

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

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Cristal

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

vincentlynch-moonoi

I rarely give ratings of "8". Maybe 1 in 20 films. But this film is certainly deserving.In trying to find something to criticize...well, it wasn't easy. Perhaps at times the film moves a little too slowly. But that's about all I can criticize.It's filmed on location in both England and Botswana. The performance by David Oyelowo as Sir Seretse Khama, the traditional king and first president of Botswana, is exceptional. He's truly an actor to watch. I took me a while to be won over by the performance of Rosamund Pike as his White/British wife. All the actors do a very good job, but this film very much belongs to Oyelowo, and to a lesser extent Pike.I won't go into the plot or the history...but the film appears to be rather faithful to history.I was genuinely moved by this film.

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phd_travel

This isn't just about an African King marrying an English woman. It's actually quite an epic and significant true story about the country that became Botswana. This movie doesn't shy away from showing the blatant attempts at colonial plundering and exploitation by the post war British government of the time and even Winston Churchill in a bad light. This political aspect gives it quite a grand historic sweep recalling Gandhi in it's powerful message.Rosamund Pike is more expressive than usual and quite good. David Oyewolo is quite effective restrained and yet convincing giving dignity to the role.Worth watching. ALmost as good as Cry Freedom.

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lavatch

The year in 1947. With the end of World War II, the British Empire is now facing extinction. Times are changing with new states in the world emerging in a renewed spirit of nationalism. The subject of this story is the emergence of the Republic of Botswana out of the former monarchy of Bechuanaland which was a longstanding protectorate of the British Empire.The microcosm of this film is the remarkable love story of Prince Seretse Khama, who is studying law in England and about to succeed to the throne of his native Bechuanaland. But something happens along the way: he falls in love with a white British office girl named Ruth Williams. Against every social norm in both nations, the couple forge ahead with their relationship by getting married! Reviled in the press as "The African Queen," Ruth stoically stands by Seretse. Slowly, the people of Bechuanaland recognize her courage and decency and come to accept her, welcoming her with the chant of "Pula" (rain). In the meantime, the astute politician Seretse stays one step ahead of the British government to lobby on behalf of his nation.In the repellent paternalistic politics of the fading British empire, the one figure who comes up as duplicitous and hypocritical is Winston Churchill. After promising to allow Seretse to reclaim the crown during his postwar run for the Prime Minister, Churchill reneges on his promise once elected. It is at this time that Seretse learns of the discovery of diamonds in his nation and uses the press to advance his nationalistic goals against the recidivist British authorities. This nefarious activity is documented in the Harrington Report that indicates the British collaboration with South Africa to repress nationalist spirit in Bechuanaland.The film portrays this story with great dignity, especially with actors David Oyelowo as Seretse and Rosamund Pike as Ruth. The photography is stellar in the African scenes, and the screenplay is crisp and well-paced. One of the films motifs is Seretse's phrase, "No man is free who is not master of himself." The film brilliantly extrapolates from that personal dictum to the larger thematic concern of the emergence of the new nation of Botswana that eventually occurred in 1966. The first duly elected president was Seretse Khama himself, who oversaw the emergence of his new nation and was later called by Nelson Mandela "a shining beacon of light and inspiration" for the world.Early in the film, the snobbish, racist British minister sarcastically asks Seretse, "May I offer you a sherry?" By the close of the film, Sertese returns the compliment to another British official when it is clear that the sun is about to set on the British empire.

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Shadman Sadik

Based On True Events, it portrays a historically accurate situation. Life is full of surprises, you never know when what will happen. A United Kingdom is the story of Seretse Khama (king of Bechuanaland) and Ruth Williams Khama and their unconditional love and its aftermath. The movie beautifully represents the racial conflict, colonial power, and its bad effect. You can never part a man from his homeland and also rule a land for a long time which is not yours. David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike gave us a pleasurable moment and an intriguing visual work.

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