DVD: A United Kingdom

A United Kingdom is a film about the forbidden love and marriage between a black man, Seretse Khama and a white woman, Ruth Williams. Their relationship is complicated by the fact that Seretse is heir to the kingship of Bechuanaland, a British protectorate in Africa.The film covers the period from 1947 to the late 1950's. Britain was broke after World War II, struggling to keep control of its vast number of "colonies" in Africa and elsewhere and the Cold War was just beginning.

The Bechuanaland Protectorate was established in 1885 by the United Kingdom to protect the area inhabited by the Tswana people from possible incursion by South Africans. The British intended to turn over administration of this area to either Rhodesia or South African but opposition to this by the Tswana people resulted in it remaining under British control until independence in 1966.

Seretse's grandfather, King Khama ruled Bechuanaland from 1975 until his death in 1923. Khama was an intelligent ruler who sought to protect his people's land. Bechuanaland was granted protection by Queen Victoria after King Khama visited Britain to obtain British help. Bechuanaland was threatened with incorporation into Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company. This would mean that Bechuanaland would be controlled by Rhodes, an avid supporter of colonization and who believed the blacks of Africa were a lesser race.

Khama's eldest son, Sekgoma II became the tribal chief in 1923 but only ruled for a year before he too died. The leadership of the tribe passed on to his infant son, Seretse, whose uncle Tshekedi became regent and who raised him. The movie picks up the story with Seretse, now a young man, studying in London. His life is filled with boxing at a club and attending jazz clubs where he dances.

Meanwhile Ruth Williams who has just broken up with her boyfriend is encouraged by her sister, Muriel to accompany her to the Missionary Society dance. At the dance Ruth overhears Seretse with friends discussing his views on imperialism and Africa. Seretse also notices Ruth and they eventually meet and dance. Muriel later informs Ruth that Seretse is from Bechuanaland and is studying law. This intrigues Ruth who looks up the country in an atlas.

The next day a parcel containing a jazz record arrives for Ruth from Seretse who also invites her to a dance. She accepts, they have a good time and learn more about each other. Seretse tells her that his country is one of the poorest in Africa and that they are under the special protection of Britain. At the end of the night, Ruth doesn't allow Seretse to accompany her all the way to her home because her father will not approve. At this point Seretse reveals to Ruth his heritage; that he is to be the future king of Bechuanaland and now that his studies are completed he must return home. Despite this Ruth and Seretse continue to see one another. Eventually Seretse asks Ruth to marry him and she immediately accepts.

Little do Seretse and Ruth realize the implications and the political fallout their marriage will create. Both Seretse's friends and Ruth's family are shocked. Seretse is advised to write his uncle which is he does, while Ruth tells her family and is told by her father that if she marries him, he will never see her again. This greatly upsets Seretse who offers her a chance to change her mind but Ruth is determined.

Unknown to Ruth and Seretse, his Uncle Tshekedi has unleashed a chain of events that leads to a visit by Sir Alistair Canning to Ruth's workplace. Sir Canning, who is the British government's representative in Southern Africa, tells Ruth that "Mr. Khama" is mistaken about marrying who he chooses and that their marriage will have serious repercussions for Bechuanaland's neighbors, particularly South Africa who is putting into practice apartheid.  Ruth doesn't know that apartheid means that "the black must lives separately from the white" but she refuses to back down. Even when she's told that the presidents of South Africa, South Africa West and Rhodesia are demanding that the marriage not take place.

Seretse learns from Sir Canning that it is his uncle who is behind the attempts to prevent his marriage. So Seretse and Ruth marry in a civil ceremony with a few friends and Ruth's sister present. Their marriage makes international news. Seretse and Ruth travel to Bechuanaland where Seretse plans to confront his uncle. What they don't know is that the battle to live their lives as they wish and for the future of Bechuanaland is just beginning.

Discussion

A United Kingdom, directed by Amma Asante, is a beautifully crafted film with stellar performances by David Oyelowo (Seretse) and Rosamund Pike (Ruth). A strong supporting cast of Jack Davenport (Sir Alistair Canning), Laura Carmichael ( Muriel) and Tom Felton (Rufus Lancaster) round out the film. A United Kingdom is based on the book, Colour Bar by Susan Williams which chronicles the love affair and marriage of two people determined to overcome the social conventions and racial prejudices of the post-war world. It was a time when the sun was setting on British colonialism but also when racial intolerance was about to enshrined in law with the enactment of apartheid in South Africa.

The film captures all the difficulties that Seretse and Ruth encountered; from opposition by their families,  interference by British politicians and Seretse's own uncle, racial abuse in the streets, to Seretse's banishment from Bechuanaland and attempts to wrest the kingship of his country from him. Ruth's father admonishes her for "choosing a life of insults and shame" and refuses to see her again after the marriage (although he does eventually reconcile with her), while Seretse's family see Ruth,as a white person synonymous with intolerance and racial prejudice. His family urge him to divorce her which Seretse courageously refuses to do. This sets up a dramatic conflict between Seretse and his beloved Uncle Tshekedi.  It is Seretse who urges his people to work for tolerance and equality, to rid themselves of the apartheid instituted in their own country with white only entrances and other discriminatory policies such as no alcohol served to blacks.

A United Kingdom explores the reasons why Britain, South Africa, and other African countries were against the marriage of a black man to a white woman. The South African government under Prime Minister Malan was in the process of enacting apartheid which called for the total separation of the white and black races. Seretse and Ruth's marriage was in direct opposition to the idea of apartheid.  Although there was support for Seretse from the British public and from some British politicians, the fact was that the United Kingdom could not afford to alienate South Africa which was threatening to leave. The British government was broke after World War II and desperately needed South Africa's gold. It also needed the country's uranium for its own nuclear arsenal as the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the West was beginning to ramp up. These political reasons resulted in Britain acting in a shameful way, stripping the people of Bechuanaland of their rightful king.

The British colonial attitude which viewed the black people of Africa as inferior and in need of governing, is superbly portrayed by many characters including Jack Davenport's character, Sir Alistair Canning who tells Seretse after announcing his five year exile, that a tribal council will be set up so people "will have some sort of say in our running of your affairs."

Ruth and Seretse in real life with two of their children.

A United Kingdom is a must-see film for those interested in history, civil rights and the post-war period. Asante manages to balance the struggles of Ruth and Seretse with his portrayal of the beauty of Africa and its people, who value family and tradition and who want the right to govern themselves.