Belle Review

Prior to watching this film, I had never heard of Dido Belle. It turns out she was not a mere fictitious character but a real human being and a significant part of British history. She is considered to be the first Black British aristocrat.The film is based on the painting of both Dido and Elizabeth Murray  in 1779. They are unusually portrayed as equals standing together side by side smiling.This juxtaposes against the stereotypical portrayal  in  Artworks during the renaissance period  of the vulnerable slave at the feet of their owner.

Dido Elizabeth Belle was born into slavery as the natural daughter of Maria Belle, an enslaved African woman in the West Indies. Her father was Captain John Lindsay, a British Naval officer that brazenly acknowledges his daughter. After her mother's death, he gave her the privilege and the life that she was entitled to. Evidently, this was not without the raised eyebrows from the rest of society and of her relatives who reluctantly adopted her as their own.The film is both enchanting and sinister as it pierces into the flesh behind the glamour. It features the sophistication, brutality, injustice and the struggles of race and equality. Moreover, the film is not merely a dark and gritty portrayal of the past. Instead, it is a love story about overcoming prejudice and fighting for what is right and just.

Gugu-Mbatha Raw gives a remarkable performance as Belle. A woman intelligent and defiant. She really gets to grips with a woman that was a victim of circumstance but at the same time refused to let the circumstance swallow her whole. She identifies the sensitivity of the division between class and culture but did not oppose the differences that made her an entire entity. Although 'she knew little of her mother other than the colour she had given her', she educated herself and questioned the inhumane circumstances of the people  she resembled. Tom Wilkinson's performance as Lord Mansfield (Dido's uncle) was also incredibly heartwarming. He painted a portrait of the man who was able to separate colour and distinguish the human being, despite his wrestling with social conditioning.

Belle was a truly enchanting and stirring melodrama. Unfortunately, the love story element was a bit mills and boon. All the key factors in terms of social and historical context are touched on but a real in depth discussion was not created. Perhaps to sooth the stomachs and consciences of  commercial viewers. It would have been interesting if there was some expansion into Belle's contextual background. What was her life like as a mixed-raced child born into slavery? What was her relationship like with the black maid servants? Surely there must have been contention even if it was just underlying. As for the white servants such as Joseph, who secretly drove Belle to meet her love interest. Was there hostility? Were they ambivalent about her position in society?  Overall, the film is a very enjoyable costume drama, think  Austen meets a diluted version of 'Amazing Grace'.