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A United Kingdom

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A United Kingdom
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAmma Asante
Screenplay byGuy Hibbert
Starring
CinematographySam McCurdy
Edited byJonathan Amos
Music byPatrick Doyle
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 9 September 2016 (2016-09-09) (TIFF)
  • 25 November 2016 (2016-11-25) (United Kingdom)
Running time
111 minutes[4]
Country
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million[5]
Box office$7.8 million[6]

A United Kingdom is a 2016 British[7] biographical romantic drama film directed by Amma Asante and written by Guy Hibbert, based on the true-life romance between Sir Seretse Khama and his wife Ruth Williams Khama.[8] David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike portray Seretse and Ruth, respectively.

It was screened at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival,[9] and was the opening film at the 60th London Film Festival, the second year in a row that a British film featured.[10]

Plot

The film is based on the true story of heir to the throne of Bechuanaland Seretse Khama, of the Bamangwate tribe, who studies in London immediately after World War II. There he meets a woman (Ruth Williams) whom he eventually marries, despite the protests of their families, and opposition from the British government, which is concerned about relations with South Africa and the stability of the entire region of Southern Africa.

Seretse discovers that the British have allowed a US mining corporation to prospect for precious stones, and is eager to make sure that, if anything is found, the exploitation of the country's resources should solely be done by the people of Bechuanaland.

Seretse wants his people to support him as king and manages to win their backing, while the British government decides to exile him from his own country. Meanwhile, Ruth has their baby in Bechuanaland and becomes accepted by the local people by "walking the road with them". When the British want to proclaim an administrator to the Bechuana people instead of their king, the tribe refuses to convene a meeting to so do. During this time, diamonds are found and Seretse makes sure that the British government publicly declares that the Bechuana people have the sole right to exploit these resources.

Churchill promises, if he were elected, to lift the exile on Seretse; however after election he turns the five year long ban into a lifelong one. In London, powerful people start supporting his claim, and he also receives support from the US government. While in South Africa Apartheid develops and begins to overshadow Bechuanaland as well. Eventually, with the help of pressure from the local people, he is allowed to Betshuana and negotiates its independence from the British.

Cast

Production

Pike joined the cast in May 2015, with Asante joining shortly afterwards.[11]

In September 2015 Asante revealed that shooting would be split between Botswana and London, and that it would begin in October in preparation for a 2016 release coinciding with the 50th anniversary of independence in Botswana.[12]

In October 2015 actors Jack Davenport and Tom Felton joined the cast.[13]

In November 2015 some filming took place around Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens including Imperial College Union.

The cinematographer was Sam McCurdy and the production designer was Simon Bowles.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2016.[14] It will also screen at the BFI London Film Festival on 6 October 2016.[15][16] Shortly after, Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired U.S distribution rights to the film.[17] The film was released in the United Kingdom on 25 November 2016.[18] It was scheduled to be released in the United States on 17 February 2017, [19] but was pushed up to 10 February.[20]

Box office

As of 28 February 2017, A United Kingdom has grossed $1.1 million in the United States and Canada and $6.4 million in other countries for a worldwide total of $7.5 million, against a reported production budget of $20 million making the film a box office bomb.[6]

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 83% based on 114 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Well-acted, solidly crafted, and all-around worthy, A United Kingdom presents an absorbing look at a singular true-life love story."[21] On Metacritic the film has a score of 66 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[22]

References

  1. ^ http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/579dce25a7eec
  2. ^ http://collider.com/a-united-kingdom-trailer-david-oyelowo-rosamund-pike/
  3. ^ http://www.pathe.co.uk/filmdetail.aspx?section=cs&view=s&filmId=742
  4. ^ "A United Kingdom (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  5. ^ "A United Kingdom (2016)". The Wrap. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  6. ^ a b "A United Kingdom (2017)". Box Office Mojo. Amazon. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  7. ^ http://film.britishcouncil.org/a-united-kingdom
  8. ^ Kit, Borys (26 May 2015). "'Belle' Filmmaker to Direct David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike in 'A United Kingdom' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  9. ^ Jaafar, Ali (26 July 2016). "Toronto To Open With 'The Magnificent Seven'; 'La La Land', 'Deepwater Horizon' Among Galas & Presentations". Deadline.com. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  10. ^ Korsner, Jason (21 June 2016). "A United Kingdom To Open London Film Festival 2016". What's Worth Seeing…. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  11. ^ Jaafar, Ali (8 May 2015). "Rosamund Pike In Talks To Join David Oyelowo In 'A United Kingdom' : Cannes". Deadline.com. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  12. ^ Malefho, Lame. "Batswana being auditioned for Sir Seretse Khama movie". The Botswana Gazette. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  13. ^ Barraclough, Leo (10 October 2015). "'Pirates of the Caribbean' Star Jack Davenport Boards Amma Asante's 'A United Kingdom' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  14. ^ "A United Kingdom". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  15. ^ Barraclough, Leo (21 June 2016). "Amma Asante's 'A United Kingdom' to Open BFI London Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  16. ^ "A United Kingdom". BFI London Film Festival. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  17. ^ Lang, Brent; Seetoodeh, Ramin (15 September 2016). "Toronto: Fox Searchlight in Final Talks for 'A United Kingdom' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  18. ^ Murthi, Vikram (25 August 2016). "'A United Kingdom' Trailer: David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike Fight For Love & Country". Indiewire.com. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  19. ^ Pederson, Erik (30 September 2016). "Fox Searchlight Bringing 'A United Kingdom' To North America". Deadline.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  20. ^ Morales, Wilson (19 December 2016). "Fox Searchlight To Release Amma Asante's 'A United Kingdom' On Feb. 6, 2017 at The Paris Theatre in New York City". Black Film. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  21. ^ "A United Kingdom (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  22. ^ "A United Kingdom Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
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