A United Kingdom Blu-ray Review
20 years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision to invalidate laws prohibiting interracial marriage in America was the beginnings of a forbidden love. Across the big pond in London, Sertse Khama (Oyelowo) is wrapping up his college education so he can head back to his home country of Bechuanaland (current day Botswana) to become King. But before he can hop on a boat and undertake that massive responsibility, he attends a student mixer. That’s where he meets mousey Ruth Williams (Pike).
Much like the film LOVING, A UNITED KINGDOM deals with interracial marriage and the uneasiness of society’s willingness to accept it. It’s startling to see that it’s not only a taboo in England, but as well as in the South African country of Bechuanaland. Of course the reasons are different. In the United Kingdom, the idea of a white woman with a black man causes ages of racism and segregation to boil to the surface, igniting emotional outrage by friends, family and even strangers. However, in Bechuanaland, the frustration of seeing a black political leader with a British white woman stems from tradition.
While A UNITED KINGDOM deals with the controversial racism surrounding the marriage of the two, it falls more heavily on the political chess match going on between the two countries and how their marriage becomes a pawn for both sides. England is concerned that the marriage will upset the status quo and ruin future, as well as present, mining operations. Meanwhile, the powers to be in Bechuanaland are torn between having a unique voice in a turbulent part of the world as well as losing any kind of financial backing from their British overlords. The ones caught in the middle, besides Sertse and Ruth, is the impoverished population of Bechuanaland.
The overall political drama overshadows the interracial marriage, turning A UNITED KINGDOM into a dry history lesson. The child that Sertse and Ruth have even gets lost in the shuffle despite being the crux of why the local tribes accept Ruth, as she acclimates herself to her husband’s fellow countrymen and immerses her child in the country’s rich culture. There aren’t enough of these moments, which is a shame because it’s where Pike shines as an actress. Actually, Oyelowo and Pike shine separately in their own scenes, highlighting their character’s strength in the face of adversity. Together, there’s nothing memorable.
Overall, A UNITED KINGDOM is a vehicle for the two leads to honor the path these two real-life people carved into history for two countries. A UNITED KINGDOM works well as an acting tour de force for two underappreciated talents, but as a testament to love conquering all, it falls a bit short in finding its own honest slice of humanity. It’s actually unfair to compare it to LOVING, despite the cultural and historical significance of both. They both have similar themes, but LOVING made note that despite the historical implications, there are two people at the center wanting to love each other, and nothing more.
BLU RAY REVIEW
Video: (1080p HD Widescreen 2:39:1) The dreary city streets of London and the steamy wilderness of Bechuanaland come through beautifully on this blu-ray.
Audio: (English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1) I didn’t notice much in the way of a soundtrack, but everything else comes through clearly and balanced.
Making Of (7:19): This feature is your basic behind the scenes look at the creation of the movie, featuring interviews with the cast and crew.
Filming in Botswana (6:06): Botswana is a secondary character and this feature takes a look at the shooting location, as well as some of the struggles of shooting in the South African country.
The Legacy of Seretse and Ruth (3:45): This feature feels like it’s been severed from the “Making Of” feature. It’s interesting, but too short.
London Film Festival Opening Night Gala Premiere (6:08): I’m not a fan of red carpet interviews and by that standard, I’m not a fan of this feature showing footage from the red carpet at a London film festival.
Theatrical Trailer