Belle

Eighteenth century Britain. It is a society filled with rules and regulations, where it sucks to both African and a woman. So Dido (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is especially screwed. She is the illegitimate daughter of a British Naval Officer, John Lindsay (Matthew Goode), who is not ashamed. Dido has been raised, albeit reluctantly, by her aunt and uncle (Emily Watson and Tom Wilkinson) along with their other niece, Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon). Upon John's death, Dido receives a small fortune, 2,000 pounds per year, enough to make her desirable while poor Elizabeth has absolutely no dowry as her father has remarried after her mother's death and doesn't even acknowledge her. And Dido actually has a marriage offer, from the younger son of the Ashford family, Oliver (James Norton). Sure, he does seem nice and everything, but his older brother, James (Tom Felton) and mother (Miranda Richardson) are downright nasty and money hungry. Oliver does share the latter trait with them. Elizabeth has her sights set on James, but he dumps her the moment he finds that she is penniless.
This is set against a fantastic political backdrop of a pivotal case in the anti-slavery movement in Britain. The case involves a ship, called Zong, where the captain throws the cargo, slaves, overboard because they were sickly and were worth more dead than alive. They are trying to recoup the insurance money. Uncle is on the side of the insurance while his protege, John Davinier (Sam Reid), the vicar's son, is against, saying it is impossible to put a price on the life on a human.  Though he and Dido have an instant attraction, Uncle is against the match because then Dido would be marrying beneath her. Still, even after accepting Oliver's proposal, she sneaks out to meet with John to discuss the case, which affects both of them deeply. Uncle even orders John to stay away from Dido, trying to protect her from the horrors of the real world.
Dido, naturally, knows that she is different. She eats her dinners alone and can only join the guests afterwards where the rules are more relaxed. And who knows what would have happened if she followed through with marrying Oliver. She, thank goodness, breaks there engagement, to the shock of Lady Ashford. And thankfully, her uncle also relents and takes pity on her, offering to turn John into a gentleman so he will be worthy of her hand in marriage. Sure, the ending probably would have never happened in real life, kissing your fiance in public, him going as far as lifting you up off the ground, but it makes a wonderful, gorgeous Hollywood ending and the best part is that it is all based on a true story.
The performances truly shine, from the unknowns of Mbatha-Raw and Reid, with fiery chemistry and characters that you can't help but root for. Gadon is also fine as she teeters between deep love and affection for Dido, but also suffers from horrible jealously, not understanding why her father doesn't acknowledge her, knowing that she's done nothing wrong, longing for something that alludes her. (She does eventually marry and have three children.) She and Dido have an epic fight, even calling Dido illegitimate, using that as a crutch as to why they have dinners separately. But, just as real sisters do, when James becomes engaged to someone else, Elizabeth still cries on Dido's shoulders.
The established cast members, Felton and Richardson as the evils and Watson and Wilkinson as the good, are equally as brilliant. Wilkinson truly loves Dido, as though she were his own daughter, though at first, he did only accept her because it was his legal right.
This film shows the world at its best, where a man, against all odds, would acknowledge and love his mixed-race, illegitimate daughter, desiring her to have a better life, and a man, not caring about money, with a passion for what is right and just and for loving Dido, not for her money, but because she is an amazing person. Reid plays Davinier with a zealous passion, bringing him truly to life. Mgatha-Raw is a likable hero, and though she is an outsider, she never backs down and speaks her mind, even willing to give up one of the only things she has in life, her status.
In addition to the incredible performances, the cinematography, editing, set design and costume designs are equally as brilliant. This is a film of a time long past, that should not be forgotten. Grade: A-