At the centre of director Amma Asante’s film Belle (2013), is the story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral.

Brought to England from the West Indies to live with her aristocratic great uncle and his wife, the young Dido over time, learns of the matters of class and rank that rule her new world. A world with laws she simply must not accept, for the sake of her own dignity, happiness and sense of self.

Great performances are present in this movie, particularly from Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson and Sam Reid.

Watch it for the story of an admirably strong young woman, a courageous young man, a beautiful love story and great characters from an interesting and important time in history – 18th century England, when slavery was still a grave and common reality.

As is the case with most historical films I watch, Belle left me with a sense of gratitude for the times in which I live – and reminded me of how things do change; rarely at a satisfactory pace, but change, they do. They must.

Happy Film Loving,

G