Belle Review

Director: Amma Asante.

Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Miranda Richardson, Sam Reid and Tom Felton.

Running Time: 104 minutes.

Certificate: 12A.

Synopsis: BELLE is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed race daughter of Admiral Sir John Lindsay (Matthew Goode). Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife (Emily Watson), Belle’s lineage affords her certain privileges, yet her status prevents her from the traditions of noble social standing. While her cousin Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) chases suitors for marriage, Belle is left on the sidelines wondering if she will ever find love. After meeting an idealistic young vicar’s son bent on changing society, he and Belle help shape Lord Mansfield’s role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England.

BELLE tells the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, an illegitimate mixed race, naval Captain’s daughter, who arrives in Britain in the mid-1700s. When her father is redeployed abroad, it is left to his uncle, Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice, to raise her at his estate, Kenwood House on the outskirts of London, along with his own daughter, Lady Elizabeth Murray.

Amma Asante’s film combines love and politics, racism and slavery, honour and social ranking, all set against the backdrop of stunning 18th century London, and filmed in stunning 4000k, the first British film to use the new ultra HD technology. Up until now, the Sony F65, the camera used to capture this period drama in this new super-high-quality format, had only been used for a bunch of other films, mainly sci-fi efforts like OBLIVION, and the Will Smith vehicle AFTER EARTH. Director of photography Ben Smithard employs the new technology to its fully advantage to the polar opposite of what it has been used for before, capturing the velvety tones of the day to perfection. Ridley Scott once said HD should be like looking out of a window on clear day, and if that is the case, then this is the example. Seriously impressive.

The same can be said about the acting. Emily Watson continues her quest to become our next national treasure, if she isn’t already, knocking it out of the park with another near perfect performance as Lady Mansfield , while the equally talented Miranda Richardson delights as the highly strung, and deeply shallow Lady Ashford. Tom Felton, he from the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, plays the the nasty villain of the piece (naturally), James Ashford, while Tom Wilkinson also pops up as Dido’s adoptive father in Lord Mansfield, and rightly owns every frame in which he appears; but it is relative newcomer Gugu Mbatha-Raw who shines throughout as the film’s title character. Definitely one to watch for the future, Mbatha-Raw’s performance oozes passion, sympathy, scope, innocence, and pretty much borders on brilliance.

Misan Sagay’s script does drag in places, which is a shame, as ten-fifteen minutes could have easily been cut out to deliver a much tighter film, but there is enough going on to keep the viewer interested throughout, especially if one is a fan of this hugely popular genre.

I’m not sure how much BELLE cost to make, but not only does it feel and look epic, but the attention to detail is beyond impressive. The costumes are outstanding and the production design simply jaw dropping, blending top notch CGI with practical sets. My guess is that we’re talking sub-$10million, but Asante’s direction, Simon Bowles’ design, and Smithard’s camera deliver a film that looks like it cost three to four times that.

It is, simply beautiful.

[usr=4] BELLE is released in UK cinemas from Friday 13th June, 2014.