Review 320: Belle

Belle is a marvellous period drama and a fitting example of us life doesn't always turn out as you expect.

The film is inspired by the 1779 painting of Dido Elizabeth Belle and follows the title character (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) as she grows up in Kenwood House under the wing of her uncle William Murray, 1st of Earl of Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) Though the social mores of the time make her an outsider, Dido is raised by Mansfield as an aristocrat alongside her cousin Elizabeth Murray (Sarah Gadon). Dido's burgeoning relationship with a young lawyer, John Davinier, meets with the disapproval of Mansfield who considers the match beneath her. At the same time Mansfield is deliberating on a slavery case (Gregson vs Gilbert) which will advance the cause to abolish slavery.

The plot is terrific, like 12 Years a Slave, it's about a black protagonist trying to survive in a the upper classes of english society. In fact I think it gives you the idea of what 12 Years a Slave would be like if it was condensed into an episode of Downton Abbey. 12 Years a Slave works better because of realism and shock whereas Belle is more about traditions and conventions of white vs black in formal society which was really fascinating. 

One of the aspect explores really well is that it reminds us how essential money was in securing a good marriage. Back in those days, a good marriage was based on rank and wealth; whether you were in love or not didn't matter, you married someone who was your social equal and had money and there was little discussion.

It's also a film that deals with very weighty subject matters such as slavery, racial injustice, sexual inequality and social strictness.
  Gender Equality: Belle had little choice in whom she would marry and her Great Aunt and Uncle were worried that if she didn't have a dowry marriage would be out of the question for her and she would remain an old maid.

Class: Marriage between different classes was almost unheard of in those days, it was even considered marrying beneath Belle's class to marry the son of a man of the church e.g. John Davinier (Sam Reid). The complication for Belle lay between her class (upper) and her colour (lower) which were diametrically opposed in those days.

The Abolition of Slavery: Belle is a much more hopeful film than 12 Years a Slave because it deals with the idea that people are not human cargo. This was the first step that then led to slavery being abolished. Against all odds, Lord Mansfield in his role as Chief Justice ruled that human beings could not be insured like horses or objects and this meant that society started to view slavery in a very different way.         

Director Amma Asante direction is precise, the cinematography is beautiful, the production design is splendid, the costumes are riveting, the score by Rachel Portman is evocative, the make up is rich the locations are wonderful, the props are well crafted and it's well paced.

The acting is superb, Gugu Mabatha Raw (in a breakout performance) plays what must have be a tough role and she pulls it off fabulously. She brings the grace, the charm, the class and sophistication that's necessary for the role.
The character of Dido Elizabeth Bell is very complex in that she is, on one hand, privaliged, has a family that loves her, has been whisked away from this world of poverty and yet is still wanting to be accepted in a society where she's looked down upon because of her heritage.

Plus your really got the sense of her inner struggle, not just as a woman but also as mulato.

As William Murray, Tom Wilkinson gets to show how great an actor he is. Murray is a man who wants fair but at the same time he doesn't want to unsettle the status quo.

Sarah Gadon is also terrific as Elizabeth Murray, she is very maternal, very loving and very gentle towards Belle and I was genuinely touched by their relationship.

Sam Reid is terrific as John Davinier, he genuinely loves Belle and is very supportive towards her cause to abolish slavery. When we first meet him he is reverends son who has been taken under William Murray's wing to train and become a lawyer and something just sparks between them and they become and unlikely duo who help each other.

I know we've seen Penelope Wilton and Emily Watson play serious ladies in period drams (Penelope Wilton in Downton Abbey) but they are very good at what they do and leave quite a presence.

Matthew Goode is in the small part at the beginning of the film but nonetheless he manages to put his mark on the overall picture.

Miranda Richardson and Tom Felton are also brilliantly cast as the Lady and James Ashford respectively, they people are people for whom appearance means everything, they are also overtly racist about Belle's colour, they literally say that in the movie, which today in the 21st century we find deeply offensive.

Belle is a riveting and inspirational period drama, 4.5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.