Belle (2013) User Reviews

Mbatha-Raw drives the film

[MediaPanther · 8/10 · 9 May 2014]

In years hence, audiences will be able to point to this film, as the moment the world knew Gugu Mbatha-Raw was going to be big. Belle is Amma Asante's feature-length directorial debut, and her work here is astonishingly confident. Tackling a period piece may seem daunting to most, but in Asante's case, she has the benefit of a top-notch cast, and a truly fascinating story. Loosely based on the story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, Dido was the daughter of an enslaved African woman and an English admiral.

As the film begins, although she is born illegitimate, Dido's father (Matthew Goode, Stoker) gives her over into the care of his great-uncle, William Murray, the first Earl of Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson), who acts as the Lord Chief Justice of the British courts. As she grows into a young woman, Dido's life at the palatial estate of Kenwood is full of mixed blessings. While her uncle and aunt (Emily Watson, Breaking the Waves) treat her as if she were their own—they raise her alongside their other niece, Elizabeth Murray (Sarah Gadon, A Dangerous Method)—social conventions of eighteenth century society are immovable; no matter how much they love her, Dido feels the sting of being forced to eat with the servants, when company comes calling.

The greatness of the film comes in its intricate plotting, and in the parallels drawn between gender and race. Author Jane Austen dealt with the position of women in English society through the use of dry humor—though the rage at a young woman being forced into marriage in order to secure a safe future was always very much present. In Belle however, there is no satire to soften the blow. As Elizabeth comes out, venturing to London in search of a husband, she points out to Belle the inherent unfairness of a system that allows women to be treated as male property. Dido doesn't necessarily have the problem of a search for a husband, as the inheritance of her father's fortune ensures that she is financially secure; but for a radiant young woman in the prime of her life, her uncle's insistence on keeping her out of sight understandably rankles her.

Matters are complicated by the arrival of John Davinier (Sam Reid), the son of a local clergyman. Ambitious and wide-eyed, John wants to try to rise in station, training with Lord Mansfied to become a lawyer. His outspoken, radically abolitionist views on a notorious legal case Lord Mansfield is trying annoy the Lord considerably; but he rouses all the passionate feeling in Dido that she has been forced for so long to suppress.

As Lord Mansfield, Wilkinson (Batman Begins, Michael Clayton) plays the exasperated father figure with the correct touches of humor and warmth. As a judge, he projects the inner conflicts of a man with the weight of the entire economic system on his shoulders; you can see him try to deflect from the strong-arming of local politicians, who want to ensure that the presence of the "mulatto" in his house will not affect his ruling on the case. As Elizabeth, Gadon takes what could have been a very stereotypical role of the flighty, romantic English girl, and brings a deep sense of hurt to it. Having been left with her uncle after her new stepmother successfully wrote her out of her father's will, Elizabeth's cheery exterior hides an emotionally hurt young girl.

And finally, there is Mbatha-Raw. As Dido, the engine that drives the film, you may deeply feel her two-fold frustration as a woman, and as a person of color. You will be carried away by her passion—her belief that things should not remain the same. On a more general level, the camera absolutely adores her. She moves and projects with a vitality and ease that forces one to stop at several points. Her characterization and her performance are so accomplished, that her independent-minded heroine could stand toe-to-toe with the multiple incarnations of Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennett. If Belle is any indication, and if there is any fairness in this world, there should be more great things to come from her.

-Nick Kostopoulos - See more at: http://www.mediumraretv.org

All I can say is...

[califor123 · 7/10 · 26 May 2014]

...that Peter Saunders must have been watching a different movie. I don't agree with him at all. I enjoyed this movie to the fullest. Though the ending was a bit predictable, the acting, sets (incredible), and story were wonderful. The costume designer should win an award...As well as the set designer. Don't let his review keep you from seeing this film. Watch it, enjoy it, and see for yourself if you like it. Seven bucks well spent. If you like period pieces, go see it. The sets alone are worth the trip. And the lead actress was both beautiful and played her role very well. Maybe there weren't enough explosions or CGI to make Peter happy...

Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum

[JamesHitchcock · 8/10 · 26 June 2014]

Although "Belle" tells a highly fictionalised account of her life, Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay was a real person. She was the illegitimate daughter of a British naval officer and a black slave. Unlike many children born in similar circumstances, however, she was fortunate in that her father acknowledged her and paid for her keep. When her mother died, her father brought her from the West Indies to England and entrusted her to the care of uncle, Lord Mansfield, who just happened to be the Lord Chief Justice. When her father died she inherited his fortune, making her a desirable heiress.

This is essentially a Jane Austen story, set a generation earlier and with a racial element thrown in. The film centres on Dido's emotional relationships. She is sought in marriage by Oliver Ashford, the younger son of an aristocratic family, but his interest is largely financial and the match is fiercely opposed by his mother and his elder brother, both of whom object to the idea of a mixed-race woman marrying into their family. The great love of her life is John Davinier, a clergyman's son, an aspiring lawyer and an ardent anti-slavery campaigner.

At her uncle's stately home Kenwood House, Dido is placed in a strange and anomalous position. By reason of her fortune she is an insider, part of England's establishment; Mansfield even worries that, because of the disparity in their financial positions she might be "marrying beneath herself" if she accepts John. Her race and her illegitimacy, however, make her an outsider. She is allowed to dine with the family when they are alone, but is forced to eat separately when they have guests who might be upset by the sight of a black face. Her position contrasts strangely with that of her cousin and close friend Lady Elizabeth Murray, another niece and ward of Lord Mansfield. Elizabeth is legitimate, but has no fortune of her own, having been virtually disowned by her father under the influence of his second wife. Yet because she is white there can be no question of Elizabeth having to dine apart from the family.

Set against the love of Dido and John is a subplot about what became known as the "Zong case". When sickness broke out on a slave ship, the captain ordered the crew to throw the slaves overboard. When the insurance company refused to compensate the ship-owners for their losses, the owners sued. Lord Mansfield was the judge who heard the case in the Court of King's Bench.

Tom Wilkinson has given a number of fine performances in recent British films (and sometimes in Hollywood too), and this is one of his best. In his dealings with Dido, whom he loves dearly, Mansfield is torn between his inner decency and the need to conform to the social proprieties of the period. In legal matters he is equally torn between the demands of the law and those of justice, which is not always the same thing. In the "Zong" case he is well aware that, in refusing to pay out on the policy the insurers are motivated by commercial considerations, not humanitarian ones; if they had any humanitarian feelings they would not have become involved in facilitating the slave trade in the first place. Nevertheless, he is equally well aware that a decision against the ship- owners will be seen as a victory for the growing anti-slavery movement and a step on the road to the abolition of the slave trade. Other good performances come from newcomer Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the leading role, Penelope Wilton as Lord Mansfield's sister and Sam Reid as John.

The film has something in common with "Amazing Grace", another film about the abolitionist movement; both tend to suggest that the fight against slavery was something waged by upper-class people in wigs sitting in elegant Georgian drawing-rooms, although "Belle" does at least put a black character at centre stage. Dido, moreover, would have known about the horrors of slavery through personal experience, whereas the likes of John Davinier and Lord Mansfield only know about them at second hand. For this reason I would have liked to see more about Dido's childhood in the West Indies before the death of her mother.

As one might expect of a British costume drama, "Belle" is visually attractive, but it is more than a mere pretty face. The "heritage cinema" genre is sometimes dismissed as a mere exercise in sentimental nostalgia, but it can be much more than that. It can also be (as in much of the work of Merchant-Ivory) a vehicle for exploring significant issues, and in this case manages to explore the questions of race, social class, compassion, justice and freedom. As Lord Mansfield put it, "Fiat justitia, ruat caelum". Let justice be done though the heavens fall. 8/10

Interesting tale of bi-racial woman raised in gilded cage of racist 18th century English society, but how much of it is true?

[Turfseer · 6/10 · 1 June 2014]

What exactly do we know historically about Dido Elizabeth Belle, the subject of Amma Asante's new film, set in 18th century England? She was the "illegitimate" daughter of Admiral Sir John Lindsay and a woman from the West Indies named Maria Belle. Since Lindsay was always away at sea, he ended up leaving Dido with his uncle, William Murray, the first Earl of Mansfield (who was the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales) and his wife, at his Kenwood House estate, near London. The couple raised Dido, along with her cousin, Lady Elizabeth Murray.

Since people of mixed parentage were considered socially and racially inferior, they were usually relegated to a lower servant status and not permitted to mingle with their upper class employers. What was unusual here is that Mansfield chose to raise Dido as almost part of the family. An American visitor reported that Dido was not allowed to dine with the family (as depicted in the film) but joined the upper class ladies for coffee afterward in the drawing-room. Historically, Dido was responsible for the dairy and poultry yards at Kenwood but also assisted Lord Mansfield with his correspondence (work that was reserved for a secretary or a clerk). And Dido also had an annual allowance that far exceeded the salary of a domestic servant at the time (Notably cousin Elizabeth's annual stipend was much more than Dido's.)

It appears that Dido and Elizabeth had a good relationship. This is borne out by the famous 1779 painting of them that hung at the family estate for many years. In it, we see Dido in a turban and Elizabeth in a more demure dress, placing her hand on Dido's waist. The suggestion that they were equals is further enhanced by the fact that Dido received expensive medical treatments and luxurious bedroom furnishings.

The film however, neatly depicts simmering racism beneath the surface between the two. When Elizabeth, unhappy that she has not found a man, expresses her frustration by taking it all out on her cousin, treating her as a subordinate and someone who should be ashamed of her parentage.

Since little is known about Dido beyond this point, Asante and screenwriter Misan Sagay are forced to create their own history to move things along dramatically. Unfortunately, the central plot point, where it's posited that Dido becomes an heiress, and cousin Elizabeth is left with virtually nothing (and hence is no longer of interest among the male suitors) doesn't work at all. In reality, there is no record that Sir Lindsay left Dido anything (although he did leave his two other children a small inheritance). Lord Mansfield did leave Dido 500 pounds outright and a 100 pound annuity—-nowhere close to the amount suggested in the film.

Thus we have this anachronistic conceit of Oliver Ashford (from an aristocratic family) who offers to marry Dido (in order to get her hands on her inheritance). It is unlikely that someone of that social status would offer to marry a woman of mixed parentage in that day. In the context of the story, it's even more unlikely since the other brother, James, is an out-and-out racist, and the mother, Lady Ashford, a bigot. According to the historical record, Dido did not receive that fantastic inheritance and got less than her cousin from family members. Of course even if she did, I still find it difficult to believe that the lure of the inheritance would take precedence over the social stigma attached to courting someone considered to be of inferior status.

Even if we accept the idea that Oliver would ask for Dido's hand, I didn't believe that Dido would have even entertained the idea of shacking up with him. The way it's depicted, Dido suddenly "forgets" about how much she hates his brother and also ignores warnings that Oliver is only out for the inheritance. The idea that women during that time were so dependent on men in general and addicted to romance novels, that Dido would have thrown all her common sense out the window, still seems incredible, in the face of her convictions about the anti-slavery movement and women's rights. She knows the family she's dealing with from the get-go, so compromising--by accepting Oliver's proposal--appears completely out of character.

Now as far as Dido's romance with the dashing abolitionist vicar's son, John Davinier, that's another figment of the film's scenarists' imagination. Davinier was not even British in real life—-actually a French servant, so again Asante and screenwriter have cheated us. Still, such a fictional creation works a lot better than the idea of one of the Ashford brothers asking for Dido's hand. There are some nicely acted scenes where Davinier, now cast as an aspiring barrister, goes toe to toe with Mansfield.

Even one of the more fantastic invented "action" scenes, involving purloined documents related to the infamous "Zong" case, which Mansfield must rule on, doesn't seem too outlandish in contrast to the whole Dido-Ashford brouhaha. The Zong case figures prominently in the history of anti-slavery efforts and the film provides an excellent service in educating viewers about some of the details.

If you're willing to overlook some of the major plot contrivances, "Belle" has some good things going for it. Special mention should be made of the music by Rachel Portman. It's a brilliant score that enhances the dialogue and creates a great overall atmosphere. I liked Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Dido, who ably made her case for racial equality throughout the narrative. Tom Wilkinson steals the show as Lord Mansfield, conflicted over the values of a conservative society on the threshold of change. Finally, "Belle" succeeds here and there in elucidating the class conflict of 18th Century England. Some of the invented material doesn't work, but overall this is a very attractive film that is worth a look.

Excellent historical drama

[sfdphd · 9/10 · 28 April 2014]

I saw this film at the San Francisco International Film Festival. I don't usually see two films in one day and was tired after already seeing another film, but Belle woke me up. I really enjoyed it.

This film would have been OK as a total fiction but given that it was based on a true story, I found it fascinating. Set in England in the late 1700's, it shows the impact of the slave trade on society. The patriarch of the family is a justice of the High Court of England and takes on an important case regarding a slave trading ship while confronting the reality of limitations faced by his mulatto niece. It shows that when someone becomes part of your family, and you love that person, it changes your perspective on cultural norms. This film has prompted me to look into the history of the actual legal case involved.

The film also showed the similarities between his white and mulatto nieces: as women both had a price on their heads and suffered due to their "place" in that society beneath men... This film showed that while much has changed, many attitudes have not changed in 300 years... The two brothers who court the nieces could have come from any current film if they just updated their styles of clothes, hair, and accents.

Graceful, Sweet, but Underwhelming

[ThomasDrufke · 6/10 · 13 November 2014]

Belle is a sweet and touching film but it's nothing special. I really enjoyed the story and it's importance but I didn't find the film to be memorable. Gugu Mbatha-Raw was great as the lead, but again nothing worthy of an Oscar. She gave us a graceful and likable lead character, and basically the only likable character in the entire film.

One of the things I really enjoyed was just observing the time period and how beautifully the film is shot. What's most fascinating to me about the olden days was the simple things they did for joy. Go for a walk in the garden or sit and listen to each other sing. These are things that not many people do these days.

The supporting performances are fine but with the many tremendous actors they got to play the parts, I didn't find them to be anything extraordinary. The story is also utterly predictable from the very beginning. It's not that I disliked the film, it's that I thought the sum of it's great parts was nothing to ride home about. But if this is your type of film than I'm sure you will enjoy it's clichés for what they are.

+Mbatha-Raw's lead performance

+Awe of the time period

-Predictable story

-Average supporting performances

6.1/10

Mesmerizing and romantic true story

[authorsyriejames · 10/10 · 29 April 2014]

I just saw an advance screening of BELLE--and I absolutely loved it. The dialog, directing, performances, costumes, locations, and cinematography were all fabulous.

It's based on the mesmerizing and romantic true story of the beautiful, intelligent, mixed race daughter of an admiral, who was raised in Georgian England by her aristocratic great-uncle and his wife. The script hits all the right notes as Belle struggles to find her place in a society that doesn't quite accept her, and with the help of an idealistic young vicar's son (Sam Reid-- fantastic), influences an important anti-slavery case.

Congratulations to director Amma Asante and writer Misan Sagay for bringing this story vividly to life on the screen. Gugu Mbatha-Raw was luminous as Dido Belle, and I think Tom Wilkinson gave the best role of his career. Both are Oscar-worthy performances. The film is highly recommended.

Lacks Sparkle

[kcla · 6/10 · 18 January 2015]

This is a fine film based on an amazing true story. It is hampered by a pallid lead performance and an over-emphasis on the (mostly fictional) romance between Belle and John Davenier.

There is a standout performance by Sarah Gadon, as Dido's sister- cousin. Tom Felton, James Norton, and Miranda Richardson also provide much needed spark.

Little is known about Dido Belle, most of our impressions is based on the famous painting. However, the film's characterization fails to convey the charm and playfulness of the woman in the portrait. Instead, the lead actress is left to make 'serious' faces with furrowed brows, watery eyes, and heavy corset-breathing.

Oddly, it is the romantic lead which is the catalyst. John Davenier opens Dido's eyes to the iniquities of the slave trade and her status, which is historically inaccurate and a disservice to the real- life individuals. The film seems more concerned with the romantic life of the heroine than exploring the relationship between her and her family. Dido was an unusual woman, but so was her family. It was her relationship with her uncle and his historic decisions which abolished slavery in Britain that makes her story relevant.

The writer does a good job though, of portraying all the inequalities of Britain. Dido may be hindered by her race, but her cousin and others are no less hindered by their poverty and gender. And the film does a good job of exploring the complexities and difficulties of Dido's relationship with society.

Positive "review" of "BELLE"

[denisenicholas9 · 9/10 · 26 April 2014]

I'm a film lover who's encouraged to see a story that reveals a piece of the history so often ignored. "Belle" is based on a true story. Since the history of slavery is not taught, films that deal with it - when done well - can be not only entertaining but also instructive. We need these stories! "Belle" is surprising, a piece in the grand puzzle of the history of the slave trade and its impact on the lives of all manner of people. Tom Wilkinson is as always wonderful... The other actors are all just fine. Gugu is lovely as Dido. The hypocrisy of the British upper class is on full display. The Zong Slave ship case is threaded through this film and opens another door on the horrors of the slave trade. That case alone deserves its own film but it would probably be too horrible to watch! I was reminded of all the pained experiences black children endured as they attempted to integrate public schools. The insults and denigration, the racist assumptions hurled at these students were nightmarish. Being the only black person in a sea of whites to this day can be challenging. "Belle" allows us to see and to imagine what that was like in England in the late 1700's. "Belle" was a blood relative and still she could not sit at the dinner table if guests were dining. There's much to learn here, much to think about.

6.5/10

[Giacomo_De_Bello · 6/10 · 26 September 2014]

An enjoyable yet average period drama. "Belle" only has a list of positives and negatives that once balanced will clearly tell you what was your experience at the theater: the film has really nothing consistent to offer, nor does it provide anything new or concrete for you to think on. It is just a straight up drama that has a very, very ornate surface, yet unfortunately misses any actual emotional or conceptual depth. On the bright side it has a very solid cast, which other than a couple of weak overacting links, delivers some very sweet and charming performances. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is a wonderful leading lady both in looks and talent, but in the acting department she is overshadowed by the standout, who clearly is Tom Wilkison. He crafts a very, very involving performance and all of his acting talent, in its glorious mix of subtlety and range, is displayed on screen and manages to overcome scripting weaknesses. The other major positive is the film's ability to suck you into the age it is portraying: it is truly incredible how much more I was into the scenes that simply portrayed the society in its daily life and its sophisticated mechanics other that the parts that framed the actual drama at the center of the movie. Contributing to this is for sure an astonishing quality of production and costume design. Which brings me to the negatives: the central story that involes the prohibited love because of racism is so played out by the book, in such a banal and uninvolving, unsurprising way, in the mist of a very average and melodramatic script, that thanks to some solid direction didn't come across as cheesy as it could have been, it simply didn't offer any interesting dramatic tension. I know the story is true and it comes off as totally believable, but the movie fails to offer anything mildly original. Yet because of such a high production value and some very good actors "Belle" is a pleaseant time at the theater, but it fails in its ambitions and ends up having the focus of good scenes elsewhere from where it truly wanted to deliver.

A Must See Movie!

[dediggs · 10/10 · 4 May 2014]

This movie is most likely not playing at a theater near you, but it is so worth traveling to see. The acting was superb! I don't remember a movie in recent times that I enjoyed so much. The story touched my heart as a person of mixed African descent. It showed how then and now too much emphasis is placed on skin color. It showcased people (both white and black) that were willing to stand up for what is right. I don't find this kind of movie to be controversial as it will do so much to enlighten people to historical facts that cannot be denied.

The costumes were so beautiful and some were on display at the Landmark Theater in Los Angeles. The audience clapped and cheered at the end of the movie and were raving about the movie as they left the theater.

Interesting Story But Not Well Fleshed Out

[eric262003 · 6/10 · 21 May 2019]

It's been said that Jane Austen's "Mansfield's Park" was a brilliant fairy-tale, though not to take this claim in a disparaging way. Being that the romantic sub-plots would have been deemed impossible had it not been for their limitless supply of wealth and that their prized investments came from "cheap slave labour". It seems that in Austen's world, the economic stability that embodies the characters depicted in her books seem to be dependent on dirty money (hence the origin of the sum "filthy rich") although it's questionable if Austen ever intended it that way. But, still it's pretty unnerving when you think about it, maybe that's why rich people get a bad rap not for the the money but how they make it and it's a shame that romantic tales are catering to the rich and wealthy. Though inspired by the works of Miss Austen, the 2013 movie "Belle" was based off of actual events follows a similar path that Austen takes in her story not fully in line with period drama, but focusing on an emancipated half-black woman living the societal structures in 18th century Britain.

Directed by Amma Asante and the script written by Misan Sagay, "Belle" centres around the illegitimate mixed-race child of an African Slave named Maria Belle and of a Royal Navy Captain John Lindsay (Matthew Goode) born with a silver spoon in his mouth, well-educated, and rather scorned upon by his highly-esteemed extended family who takes guardianship upon raising her after he could no longer continue due to declining health. Though she was called Belle by her father, her aunts and uncles arrogantly referred to her as Dido, she blossoms into a elegant young woman played by heart by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. And though she is strong willed who obviously gets discarded due to her race, even though the suitors who want to propose to her are interesting. But due to her rich inheritance, she's just another Austen heroine and the guys proposing her are marrying her because of her powerful background contrary to her struggling step-cousin Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) who was disinherited by her father (Tom Wilkinson) which is original that the poor white girl has the disadvantage to the wealthy mixed girl.

In the process, Wilkinson's character is the powerful judge Lord Mansfield who's involved in an investment which focuses on slave ship while putting his thoughts in question if it's morally right for humans to be treated like cargo. Dido knows about this case in small fragments but gets better informed from a sensitive vicar's son, John Davinier (Sam Reid) who's an apprentice to Mansfield until they have an unsettling altercation about the case. Dido's self-awareness grows as does her love for John. But her aunts Countess of Mansfield (Emily Watson) and Lady Mary Murray (Penelope Wilton) are trying to steer Dido away from John and instead luring her towards a relationship with the sensitive Oliver Ashford (Jamie Norton) who's mother Lady Ashford (Miranda Richardson) wants him to marry Dido for her wealth. While his older brother James (Tom Felton still acting like Draco Malfoy) is also in it for her heritage who even goes far as to abruptly assault Dido and proposes to Elizabeth but backs away when he discovers she's poor.

Though the script and the performances were all very good, the red herring comes from what kind of a sub-genre it wants to be. It can't decide if it wants to be an Austen inspired period piece or a social commentary drama. You can't have it both ways. Director Asante falls in familiar territory as with other conventional directors. In the opening scenes, the drama kicks in with familiar territory where people are there but their faces are cut from the camera.Sure it may look dramatic at first, but it lacks originality. In the end, "Belle" has some great points of interest, but the execution deprives the movie from being both engaging or wrenching.

Good drama only But a far cry from true history!!!

[janet-didenkowski · 4/10 · 27 October 2014]

Enjoyed it first when I watched the drama. After reading up on the true history later, I was a bit disappointed to see what a far cry the movie is from historical reality.

Yes Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, Dido Elizabeth Belle as a mixed-race aristocrat, and John Davinier did exist in history. The problem is Lord Mansfield was a brave key figure in the Abolitionist Movement in his own right instead of a 'reluctant' reformer as portrayed in the movie!

The true Dido in history was not only beautiful, but also well-versed in law and politics. She acted as Lord Mansfield's legal secretary inside the Kenwood residence...

Unfortunately due to her mixed-race, she was never given the option to marry a man of equal nobility and intellect. She only married after Lord Mansfield, both her mentor and protector died. She did become Mrs. Davidier, but her husband was a French servant instead of an aspiring, abolitionist lawyer in the movie.

If Dido lived in modern days, she would have become an highly accomplished barrister or Chief Justice herself. Instead she married someone who could hardly be her intellectual equal. She became home-maker with three children and died young in her early 40s.

It's OK

[bbickley13-921-58664 · 6/10 · 8 May 2014]

I thought it was a good movie. Gugu Mbatha-Raw did a good job of playing a fish out of water. A black child born of noble blood too good for the other blacks but not good enough for the whites. The film did a good job of showing her confusion over the whole thing.

The movie also does a good job telling a story about Society in General. On top of having to deal with being black in a noble white world, she had to deal with the crap that noble white woman had to go through back in the day, namely marrying rich. A complication for Belle as her dark skin makes her unwanted, not by the men. All except that blonde kid from Harry Potter whose getting type cast as the bad guy in this film, was into the "exotic" belle, but in a time where people did not marry for love, Belle's suitor in the film had to consider his family who thought they were doing her a favor by allowing their least worthy son to purpose to her.

The worst part of the film was the fact that this entire story is laid out in the trailer so well you don't have to see the movie to know what's going to happen, but the movie does have an interesting side story about a court case in which slave masters killed their slaves for insurance money. Belle's love interest who loves her unconditionally, but because he's common, is unworthy of her, is fighting to make sure the courts realize what the slave masters did was inhumane, while Belle's uncle, the man who raised her like a daughter, is the judge who must decide if what he says has any clout. For me this was the story really worth seeing, but was not developed enough to be anything.

It was an interesting story, based on a true one, just as much about social class as it is race issues. I did enjoy it for what it was.

be transported to the 1700s

[abcvision · 10/10 · 2 April 2014]

• A love story and the value of being honest to yourself is what Belle is about. This movie transports you to the 1700s England. Based on the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle "Belle", this tale is about a young mulato girl named Belle that is brought into her father's house and caretaker of her great-uncle Lord Mansfield a honorable Chief Judge and wife. Belle has all the rights and privileges of upper society but her face reflects her slave mother and the prevailing social prejudice keeps her from being totally accepted into the formal social circles. At the same time, she befriends her cousin, who she considers a sister and is also given residence to this estate after her mother dies and her father abandons her. This story is beautifully layered with the issues of equality and slavery but is not preachy. It merely shows how the matters of the heart can't be prevented by the color of your skin. This coming of age story is masterfully told. I saw this film as part of the Atlanta Film Festival.

Definitely not a complete bore.

[Hellmant · 6/10 · 27 August 2014]

'BELLE': Three Stars (Out of Five)

Drama film based on the early life of Dido Belle, the mixed-race daughter of a Royal Navy officer, who was raised by her wealthy great- uncle in 18th century England. The movie was inspired by a 1779 painting of Dido and her cousin, Elizabeth Murray, and is mostly a fictionalized account of real life events. It was directed by Amma Asante and written by Misan Sagay. It stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Belle and costars Tom Wilkinson, Sam Reid, Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, James Norton, Tom Felton, Miranda Richardson and Matthew Goode. I found the movie to be a little slow-paced, and poorly structured, but also somewhat interesting and entertaining.

The movie begins with Captain Sir John Lindsay (Goode) taking his daughter, Dido Belle (Lauren Julien-Box as a child and Mbatha-Raw as an adult), from the West Indies, where she was born, to England. He asks his uncle, Lord Mansfield (Wilkinson), to take care of her for him. Dido is then raised, with her cousin Elisabeth (Gadon), by her great- uncle and his wife (Watson). She is treated like an outsider by many but is well educated and inherits a great deal of money from her father. She later falls for a lawyer (Reid) and the two help influence her uncle's (the Lord Chief Justice) decision on a major slavery case.

I've read the film is not very historically accurate but it's major points are correct. I'm sure the dramatizations of events probably helped make it more interesting and entertaining though. It's still a little slow paced, at times, and none of the characters seem fully developed. The performances are all good enough though, for the material they're given, and the directing seems fitting too. It's definitely not a complete bore.

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A beautiful historical romance/drama

[sanda_mo-1 · 9/10 · 30 May 2014]

Initially I was excited to see this movie because of Matthew Goode, even though I realized that he only plays a minor role in this film. After seeing the trailer however, the film flew towards the top of my "to watch" list. It still managed to exceed my expectations - interesting, well paced storyline, incredible cast (Tom Wilkinson was absolutely brilliant), intricate and beautiful costumes - definitely a movie that will be enjoyed even by those who are not big fans of period pieces.

The fact that the movie was based on a true story just made it even more impactful. Dido Elizabeth Belle is left in England by her loving Admiral father, to be raised by her aristocratic aunt and uncle - at a time in history when wealth and social standing could not overshadow the fact that she was a mixed race, illegitimate child. Belle's story of trying to figure out her place in the world and in her family unravels beautifully alongside a closer and deeper look at the racism and sexism plaguing the British society at the time. Add a dash of romance and the result is a beautiful film definitely worth watching.

A fascinating piece of history

[proud_luddite · 7/10 · 17 June 2019]

Based on a true story, "Belle" follows the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay (1761 - 1804). Referred to by her family as Dido, she was born to an African slave in the West Indies . Her biological father was John Lindsay, an upper-class British naval officer who takes Dido after her mother's death to live with his uncle (William Murray, aka Lord Mansfield) and his wife who are already raising another great-niece close to Dido's age. Lord Mansfield is also a judge in an upcoming trial that might change the course of slavery in England.

Like many other stories of this era, there is a palpable intensity in how people relate to each other regarding class, rank, politics, and inheritance rights. This shows especially in attempts at matchmaking for marriage prospects. It seemed that men, as well as women, struggled to "marry up".

What makes "Belle" so fascinating is how race is thrown in the most unusual way into this familiar equation. One might have expected Dido's race and birth circumstances to have her ranked at the lowest end of society. It certainly causes her a share of harm and injustice yet her father's bloodline and inherited wealth leave her advantaged in other ways despite how cranky this might make others feel. This twist makes the film very unique compared to many other stories dealing with class and race prejudice.

The film's ending is its weakest part. After a bit of research, it is apparent that a few liberties were taken on historical accuracy. More importantly, director Amma Asante chooses a very sentimental and syrupy approach to manipulate the audience. This approach is contrary to the much better one that Asante used through most of the film. Yet, overall, this is a fine film with a story that deserves to be told.

excellent period movie

[pamma09 · 9/10 · 26 May 2014]

I wanted to see this movie because it is a period piece. I did not know that it is based on a true story . I loved the settings, the costumes, the writing and the acting. A well written story of the start of the road to abolishing slavery in England. The Story of DIdo - the caring aunt and uncle who took her under their roof, the other niece who they are raising also and how she develops into a beautiful and very smart lady. I'm sure the reactions by the people at that time were presented accurately. Dido was not allowed to eat with company but could with just the family. The courting of the women when they were of that age was interesting to watch and the conniving by the mother of the two -oh so different men in the name of wanting more money to come from the women. I especially like the intelligence of Dido and how it came out in the age of when women were not to be involved in politics or anything other than the home. A beautifully photographed film.

A movie with a heart

[rogerdarlington · 5 July 2014]

In late 2013 and early 2014, two films made by black British directors and starring black British actors took a real-life historical black figure to say something important about slavery in the late 18th and early 19th centuries - but the two works could hardly be different in tone. Whereas "12 Years A Slave" was brutally hard-hitting in its account of a free American who was kidnapped into slavery, "Belle" is a much more gentle tale of the daughter of a black slave who manages to be raised more or less as a member of the British aristocracy.

Dido Elizabeth Belle was the illegitimate, mixed race daughter of a well-born British sea captain and an African slave. She is played wonderfully by the mixed race actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw (her father is black South African), whose previously work has been mostly on television, and the movie is the accomplished work of the director Amma Asante (her parents are Ghanaian), whose only previous feature direction was a decade ago, and we are going to hear a lot more about these talented women. A fine cast of British character actors, including Tom Wilkinson as the Lord Chief Justice and Emily Watson and Penelope Wilton in more support roles, make this a very watchable work.

Given the setting - London mainly in 1772 (although the film was largely shot on the Isle of Man) - Dido has a degree of status and some wealth but has to contend with the triple trappings of race, gender and class, as she battles both to find a husband who actually loves her (enter Sam Reid as the earnest Mr Davinier) and to encourage the LCJ to make the honourable decision in the real life court case about the 'Zong' slave ship. In true Jane Austen fashion, our heroine finds both love and honour, so no surprises here but a movie with a heart.

Shut those bloody violins up!

[phil-cfc · 6/10 · 4 May 2020]

Why spoil a good historical story by inserting an unnecessary romance and a cacophony of violins?

A Slow-Burning Gem

[katieluvsmath-545-680752 · 10/10 · 28 May 2014]

I was so excited when I found a little indie theater 40 minutes away was airing Belle. I already knew I wanted to see this film by virtue of it being a historical drama/romance that put a biracial woman front and center. I love period films, but as a genre they are sorely lacking representation of POC characters. I walked out of the theater stunned at this passionate story of love, justice, acceptance, and society. It's slow-burning, to be sure. I was getting worried the first half hour. It seemed like this would be a black and white (no pun intended) morality play of good, open-hearted people pitted against evil racists. It's true that some characters fall plainly on one side or another, but as the movie goes on, the roles start to become blurred. It becomes a story of people who are caught between the clear-cut lines society has placed. If you can find a theater playing Belle, go see it as soon as possible. Films like this deserve all the attention they can get.

Dido Elizabeth Belle...

[Thanos_Alfie · 7/10 · 19 April 2021]

"Belle" is a Biography - Drama movie in which we watch the life story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, a mixed-race woman who was the daughter of a Royal Navy Captain. She was raised by an aristocratic uncle of his, she had a good education and she also understood very well the true meaning of society that time.

I liked this movie because it is based on true events and on the life of an important person. It also represents an important fight for civil rights along with an understanding of the society of that time. The direction which was made by Amma Asante, it was very good and she presented very well her main character along with her feelings, dreams and her life goals. The interpretation of Gugu Mbatha-Raw who played as Dido Elizabeth Belle, it was outstanding and she expressed very well the struggle of her character at that period. Other interpretations that have to be mentioned were Tom Wilkinson's who played as Lord Mansfield, Sam Reid who played as John Davinier and Emily Watson's who played as Lady Mansfield. To sum up, I have to say that "Belle" is a nice movie and I recommend everyone to watch it because it presents with a very clever way many sensitive subjects that need to be mentioned.

See it or don't...

[MovieHoliks · 5/10 · 18 March 2015]

I was recently looking up a list of slavery-related films off Wikipedia, and this fairly recent 2013 film showed up, and I had remembered adding it to my watch list on HBO GO, so thought I'd give it a go.

This work of "historical fiction" is based on one particular painting, and what is known about it. Now the lead actress is a real cutey-p'tutey, and the cast is first-rate-->> Matthew Goode of the recent "Imitation Game", Tom Wilkinson, etc.. But the overall movie itself TBH was just kinda boring. The production values are first-rate, as are the performances, but the movie never really "takes off" to any great degree. I'm on the fence on this one...

What is Right can never be Impossible

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 12 July 2014]

Greetings again from the darkness. Always a bit partial to films based on a true story, I would have to label this as one of those fictionalized historical period pieces. While it's a very attractive movie to look at, I was a bit frustrated at the multi-directional approach.

The movie could have focused on the relationship between cousins Dido Elizabeth Belle and Lady Elizabeth Murray. Or it could have zeroed in on the unusual complexities raised by the illegitimate mixed race Belle being raised in British Aristocracy. Still another option would have been digging into the historical impact of Zong massacre and the subsequent arguments, trials and appeals. Instead, we get a spoonful of each ... which leaves the viewer wanting more detail on all three topics.

The cast is very strong and features Tom Wilkinson as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Court ... he raises Belle at the request of his nephew (her father). Lord Mansfield's wife is played well by Emily Watson, and Sarah Gadon plays Belle's cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray. The two cousins are featured in the famous 1779 painting that inspired the story. Also featured are Miranda Richardson, Matthew Goode, Penelope Wilson, James Norton, Sam Reid, and Tom Felton - who creates yet another despicable character to go with his Draco from the Harry Potter series.

Maybe the best term for this is historical melodrama, as the courtroom decision comes across as anti-climatic, with more third act attention paid to Belle's love interest (Mr. Reid). Very little is known of the actual Dido Elizabeth Belle, but it seems clear that her role in the Zong trial was dramatically enhanced for the purposes of the film. In fact, more drama may have played out for the film's writing credit between the film's director Amma Asante and the WGA. Though the director lost the writing credit, she can be proud enough of the final product.