A
United Kingdom (2016/Fox Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
B+/C+ Sound: B+/B- Extras: A Film: A-
Based
on a true story, a story of a nation, it's king and a love story that
changed it course in history. The story of Seretse (David Oyelowo),
Ruth (Rosamund Pike), their forbidden love & marriage in a time
where inter racial marriage was forbidden and looked upon with shame
in the 1940s in Amma Asante's A United Kingdom (2016).
For
20 years, Seretse was raised and educated in England to return to
Botswana to be it's King and England's proxy protectorate. That was
until he met and fell in love with Ruth, a white English woman.
Because of their marriage, they faced an uphill battle with both
countries England and Botswana. Seretse and Ruth stood and fought
for equality and independence for their country and their marriage,
while everyone else told them they were fools and to consider
otherwise. They endured discrimination and racism and were
threatened with exile, but they discovered they were only political
pawns in a much larger game, government agendas for mineral/diamond
rights in South Africa. In the end, they won both the respect for
and from the people and for their marriage as well, yet ugliness and
trouble remained and even still does as you read this.
This
was an eye opener to some of the history of South Africa. It makes
one ask, 'in what way is government superpowers of the world today
doing them same things in foreign countries in which they have an
invested interests?' Effective and well-cast, it avoids cliches and
is more than worth your time, especially considering the talented
leads.
The
1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image and fine-sounding DTS-HD
MA (Master Audio) 7.1 lossless track are top rate and among the best
on regular Blu-ray we've encountered from Fox. The anamorphically
enhanced DVD with lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is passable, but not
as good. Extras include making of the film, filming in Botswana,
Legacy of Seretse and Ruth, London Film Festival Opening Night Gala
Premiere and trailers.
-
Ricky Chiang
