A United Kingdom
A United Kingdom

Movie spotlight

A United Kingdom

2016
Movie
111 min
English

The inspiring true story of Seretse Khama, the King of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), and Ruth Williams, the London office worker he married in 1948 in the face of fierce opposition from their families and the British and South African governments. Seretse and Ruth defied family, Apartheid and empire - their love triumphed over every obstacle flung in their path and in so doing they transformed their nation and inspired the world.

Insights

IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes84%
Metacritic63/100
Google Users90%
Director: Amma AsanteGenres: Biography, Drama, History, Romance

Plot Summary

The film tells the true story of Seretse Khama, the prince of Bechuanaland (now Botswana), and his forbidden marriage to a white English woman, Ruth Williams. Their union challenged the racial prejudices and political pressures of the time, both in Britain and Southern Africa. Faced with ostracism and threats to his kingdom, Seretse fought to return to his homeland and lead his people.

Critical Reception

A United Kingdom received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its compelling true story, strong performances, particularly from David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike, and its thoughtful exploration of themes like racism, colonialism, and love. Some noted it as a well-crafted and emotionally resonant historical drama.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its powerful and timely true story.

  • David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike deliver compelling performances.

  • Explores complex themes of race, love, and politics with sensitivity.

Google audience: Audiences largely appreciated the film's inspiring true story, the chemistry between the lead actors, and its historical significance. Many found it to be a moving and well-acted drama that highlighted an important, lesser-known historical event.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards. David Oyelowo received a nomination for Best Actor at the same ceremony. It also received nominations at the London Film Critics Circle Awards and the NAACP Image Awards.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true story of Seretse Khama, who went on to become the first democratically elected president of Botswana.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Reno

Reno

**The story of two kingdoms.** It got the mixed responses from all the quarters, but I had a little doubt that did I watched the same film! Because it was much better than what I have had heard from them. It's a biographical romance- dra...