Belle

Parental Rating: PG

Contains:

Jill's Review

Opens May 9, 2014 in Dallas

Runs 103 minutes

Inspired by a painting, this movie, set in the late 1700's, is loosely based on the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay, called Dido (Gugu Mbatha-Raw). She is the half black daughter of an aristocratic Royal Naval Captain (Matthew Goode) and a black woman. When the woman dies, Lindsay takes his daughter to live with his uncle, Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife (Emily Watson) because his career is at sea. There she lives in comfort with her cousin Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) who has also been taken in by the Mansfields. She is raised  and educated as one of the family but the Mansfields are still aware of the times and often she dines alone when company comes for dinner. She doesn't understand how she is not good enough to dine with the family but she is too good to dine with the servants. This situation is reinforced when the girls reach a marriageable age. Elizabeth is sought out and courted while Dido must remain in the shadows. Then Dido falls for an idealistic young lawyer who is below her station in life. Lord Mansfield will not allow her to see him as he is not appropriate for a woman of her lineage. She is very confused with her lot in life. Meanwhile, Lord Mansfield is faced with a crucial case involving the slave trade that has come under his jurisdiction as Judge of the High Court. As he works through this case, he comes to understand Dido and how she must feel among her peers. He resolves the case and allows for Dido to follow her heart.

I loved this movie. It is a great costume drama. The girls are lovely, the scenery is spectacular and it is inspired by a true love story. Plus, the court case adds a palpable tension to the movie. If you iike historical romance, then this movie is for you. In the screening I saw, the crowd gave a round of applause at the end. It was a very touching and inspiring movie.

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