Belle (2013)

• Year: 2013
• Released: 13 Jun 2014
• Country: United Kingdom
• Adwords: 13 wins & 32 nominations
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404181/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Belle
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/belle
• Available in: 1080p,
• Language: English
• MPA Rating: PG
• Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
• Runtime: 100 min
• Writer: Misan Sagay
• Director: Amma Asante
• Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson
• Keywords: woman director, based on true story, based on a true story, period drama, trial,

	7.3/10
	64/100

Belle Storyline

It’s the late eighteenth century. Dido Elizabeth Belle, the biracial illegitimate daughter of Royal Navy Captain Sir John Lindsay (Matthew Goode) and a West Indian slave, grew up in privilege with her paternal cousin Elizabeth Murray (Sarah Gadon) in the household of their and Sir John’s Uncle Lord William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) and Aunt Lady Mansfield (Emily Watson), he a Chief Justice. While Dido and Elizabeth have always treated each other as sisters and have considered Lord and Lady Mansfield like their own parents, Dido, although living in comfort, is not afforded all that is given to Elizabeth, due to the color of her skin. As such, Dido is not to come out as Elizabeth is in finding a suitable husband who can raise her status in society. Conversely, Sir John, upon his death, provided financially for Dido, unlike Elizabeth’s father, who has made no such financial arrangement for her, making Dido financially secure regardless of what happens with her in terms of matrimony. Regardless, Dido still wants all that it means to come out, she being casually courted by Oliver Ashford (James Norton), against the wishes of his mother and brother, Lady Ashford (Miranda Richardson) and James Ashford (Tom Felton), who in turn is courting Elizabeth. Bigoted Lady Ashford and James do whatever in their power to make Dido’s life a living hell, especially if it looks as if she and Oliver plan to marry. Meanwhile, Dido befriends John Davinier (Sam Reid), the son of a local vicar and an aspiring lawyer, who is researching a case for Lord Mansfield regarding an insurance claim filed by a slave ship’s owner for loss of slaves at sea due to illness. Lord Mansfield and John end up having a falling out about one aspect of the case, John wanting the case to lead to abolishing of slavery in England. Through Dido secretly helping John with the case behind Lord Mansfield’s back, she and John fall in love. Such a relationship, if it comes to light, having many obstacles including the objections of Lord and Lady Mansfield in favor of Oliver Ashford as a more suitable husband for Dido.

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Belle Movie Reviews

Not Everything is Black and White

“Belle” is quite a film. It surpasses expectations in just about every category, from its complex and rich performances to all the care that went into giving the film its background, atmosphere, and most importantly, a sensitive script that is not afraid to make you both comfortable as you appreciate the retelling of a real life story that should inspire more than a few of us in the audience.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw follows the footsteps of another amazing and very talented beauty, Lupita Nyong’o. She shines when she is on the screen with a serene but powerful presence, and she can certainly act, conveying a dazzling range of emotions as she grows from a confused, sheltered aristocrat to a passionate and determined advocate of change and human rights. It’s not an easy transition, and her situation is truly special because just she refers to herself as fortunate enough to have conquered some of the chains that bind her race, she is still subjugated by the pressures of a society that is slow to accept change.

She has been raised by one of the most powerful and wisest men in England, as her father left her behind as he continues to serve his country. She has a strong bond with all the members of her family, whom unfortunately are bound and restricted their equals. They truly care for her but are afraid to push the boundaries because this is a time when position and money work very well together, and it is just wise not to rock the structure, or the consequences can haunt you for many years.

Soon, as she comes of age and inherits enough money to give her some type of independence, she begins to discover how different and special standing is. She can wield power and literally bend the rules, but she will always be targeted by bigoted and abusive men and women who can’t see beyond a very restrictive set of rules and beliefs. Miranda Richardson and Tom Felton adroitly display the worst qualities of the Ashford clan as they enter into a careful and cruel game where emotions are the worst of the assets. It’s a kill or be killed universe, where one must ensure a solid future by finding a successful match. Richardson malevolent Lady Ashford is even willing to sell her soul in order to secure the resources her eldest needs to reach a higher echelon.

Balancing this cold collection of vultures are the people who are beginning to question this society’s economic and social structures. John Davinier crosses paths with Dido (Belle), forging a bond that will be essential in the development of a growing resistance to their personal and societal chains. Both generate intelligent heat. Their chemistry is obvious and key to the success of the film. Some of the most romantic moments in period pieces is in display here. It recalls some of the energy and rebelliousness of “The Graduate”, a bit of the freshness of “Pride and Prejuidice”, and the inflexible and uptight background in movies like “Remains of The Day”, “Age of Innocence” and other famous period/love classics. What is daring in “Belle” is that it juggles the struggles of an individual and manages to keep it close to our own feelings while using that to create a link to more important issues, or maybe it is that they both linked because of our humanity.

In the end “Belle” is a crowd pleaser, giving us a happy ending, a sense of hope and satisfaction that it will get better, that love can conquer plenty, and that maybe there’s goodness in most of us. Tom Wilkinson has surpassed himself by creating a portrayal of a man who has a very special nature, learned by personal experience, and has incorporated a combination of personal experience with his logical training and understanding of the issues that the film is exploring.

There is a special moment between him and his wife, beautifully played by Emily Watson, an actress known for her passionate performances. Here’s she warm and supportive, a source of protection and love for those she chooses to love. It is obvious she has given her husband much support over the years, that part of the reason he has never lost perspective of what he believes in comes from the way she communicates her thoughts to him. They are a perfect team, and a model for what Belle has begun building with John, a couple that will likely continue influencing whatever lies in front of them, and it won’t be an easy task, but we are pleased to know this amazing couple have the heart and mental acumen to light the fires of change.

I expect this film will receive plenty of recognition and develop strong word of mouth because it richly deserves it. It is intelligent and inspirational and one of the best examples of what truly outstanding movies can offer: a great look, an amazing script, and a cohesive product all given to us by a director that knows how to balance and put together all those elements, and Ms. Amma Asante has demonstrated just that.

Slow and deliberately paced, but a delight.

I loved “Belle” but also can clearly see that it’s NOT a film for everyone. Let’s face it–movies with explosions and that require very little thinking generally do the best. This is not meant to be fat-headed on my part–it’s just that cerebral and period films just don’t make all that much money compared to other sorts of pictures. “Belle” is set in the late 18th century, there are no explosions, no war and lots of dialog…so it probably is not everyone’s idea of a fun time. With my love of history, however, the film was just what I like.

The story is about Dido Elizabeth Belle, a most unusual young lady in her time. She was a rich upper class lady…yet her mother was black! Because of this, her place in British society was very problematic. The story concerns her life during the time just before she married and concerns her courtship as well the pressing issue of the Dido–a slaver ship that murdered at least 132 slaves and which then claiming compensation by their insurer after they tossed these people into the sea! Where all this goes is something you’ll just need to see for yourself.

Overall, there is a lot to like about this costume drama. The romance is sweet and charming, the costumes and sets are amazing and the story, though deliberately paced, is marvelous. A truly exceptional film, though in a few cases I wondered why a few details from Dido’s life were changed–such as the composition of the famous painting as well as making her French husband British in the film. Regardless, this is some film.

compelling historical melodrama

Slavery is the lifeblood of the British empire during the 18th century. Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) was born in 1761 to a black female slave and Captain Sir John Lindsay, an upper class British gentleman. John claims her as his after her mother’s death. She grows up with the companionship of her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray (Sarah Gadon) under the guardianship of their great-uncle William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife Elizabeth (Emily Watson). She inherits her father’s fortune while Elizabeth is left penniless. She is befriended by anti-slavery vicar’s son John Davinier (Sam Reid) while a ground-breaking insurance case comes to Chief Justice Murray with a claim on murdered slaves. The case could bring down slavery in the empire.

The history may be overwrought and overstated but it is not wrong. It has its heart in humanity. The performances are great. The confrontation between Dido and Elizabeth is heart-wrenching. The production and directing is a little light. The plot is inevitable. Overall, it is compelling history even with its melodramatic touches and turns.