• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Friday, September 22, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

‘Belle’ a well-crafted period film about race, class, and privilege

by MSR News Online
June 6, 2014
66
SHARES
1.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

By 
Contributing writer

Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Dido Elizabeth Belle
Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Dido Elizabeth Belle

The beautiful biracial daughter Dido Elizabeth Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) of Admiral Sir John Lindsay (Matthew Goode) and a slave woman is adopted by great-uncle Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkerson)and his wife Lady Mansfield (Emily Watson) in 18th century England. The Mansfields raise Dido like their own daughter along with her cousin Elizabeth Murray (Sarah Gadon).On the face of it,Dido seems to enjoy the luxuries of aristocratic England except shes often barred from her family’s dining area because of her cream-colored skin. She has to face other humiliations ,both subtle and not so subtle, such as from Lady Ashford (Miranda Richardson), mother of Oliver Ashford (James Norton) and her older son James Ashford (Tom Felton).

Belle is told in Jane Austen style in England during the slave trade before abolition. Both Dido and Elizabeth are eligible and suitable to find aristocratic husbands – during which envy brews in Elizabeth over Didos potential husband and Elizabeth’s suitor.

Dido doesn’t take the racism she encounters without resistance. Although she loves her family, Dido wants a certain amount of independence and and to be treated with dignity being the sole heir of her father’s inheritance. Behind her back,members of the household refer to her as the judge’s ¨notorious mulatto.¨ As Belle gets more interested in politics,especially about a particular slave ship mysteriously and ominously sunk, she turns down wealthy men as marriage material for handsome but a poor vicar’s son John Davinier (Sam Reid).

Screenplay writer Misan Sagay and director Amma Asante (A Way of Life) are both superb in creating Belle. Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Dido Elizabeth Belle is a great reason in itself to see Belle. Tom Wilkinson, Emma Watson, Miranda Richardson, Sam Reid, and James Norton all give very fine performances as well in this mature period piece.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Belle (2014)

Fox Searchlight

Drama/History/Romance

Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Dido Elizabeth Belle),Tom Wilkinson (Lord Mansfield), Emily Watson (Lady Mansfield), Matthew Goode (Admiral Sir John Lindsay), Sarah Gadon (Elizabeth Murray), Penelope Wilton (Lady Mary Murray), Miranda Richardson (Lady Ashford), James Norton (Oliver Ashford), Sam Reid (John Daviñier).

Rated PG

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Running time: 103 minutes

Director:Amma Asante

Written by Misan Sagay

Howard McQuitter welcomes reader responses at howardmcquitter68@gmail.com

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Maya Angelou memorial service will be streamed online

Next Post

Twins outfielder decides to ‘swing one way’

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

Biden administration to ban medical debt from Americans’ credit scores
National

Biden administration to ban medical debt from Americans’ credit scores

Hamline’s Jones claims season’s first individual MIAC award 
Sports

Hamline’s Jones claims season’s first individual MIAC award 

College hockey undergoing ‘significant transformation’
MN Wild/NHL

College hockey undergoing ‘significant transformation’

A child dhould be seen and heard
Bulletin

A child dhould be seen and heard

reparations x broken chains
Opinion

Call for Reparations

Stanley Nelson’s doc ‘Sound of the Police’ dissects police in Black communities
Arts & Culture

Stanley Nelson’s doc ‘Sound of the Police’ dissects police in Black communities

Next Post

Twins outfielder decides to ‘swing one way’

Comments 2

  1. Dwight Hobbes says:
    9 years ago

    Writing this boring could put sleeping pills out of business.

  2. Howard McQuitter II says:
    9 years ago

    Dear,Mr.Hobbes,this film is a period piece,a drama,not a raving blockbuster.By the way,you never got back to me when you were writing for the Insight more than 12 years ago.I think your lack of getting back to me after that time would mean millions of sleeping pills.Then again,we would overdose–wouldn’t we?

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 22
September 22 @ 5:00 pm-September 23 @ 8:30 pm

9th Annual Lantern Lighting Celebration at Lakewood Cemetery

Sep 22
7:30 pm-9:00 pm Recurring

Michhil Amra | We Are The Procession

Sep 23
10:00 am-1:00 pm

Expanding Diversity Career Fair

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: