Synopsis
The inspiring true story of Seretse Khama, the King of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), and Ruth Williams, the London office worker he married in 1948 in the face of fierce opposition from their families and the British and South African governments. Seretse and Ruth defied family, Apartheid and empire - their love triumphed over every obstacle flung in their path and in so doing they transformed their nation and inspired the world.
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Cast
- David OyelowoSeretse Khama
- Rosamund PikeRuth Williams-Khama
- Tom FeltonRufus Lancaster
- Jack DavenportSir Alistair Canning
- Terry PhetoNaledi Khama
- Laura CarmichaelMuriel Williams
- Jessica OyelowoLady Lilly Canning
- Vusi KuneneTshekedi Khama
- Nicholas LyndhurstGeorge Williams
- Arnold OcengCharles
Recommendations
- 83
IndieWire
Bolstered by real events and true emotion, A United Kingdom opts for genuine, hard-won feeling, and the film studiously backs off from cheesy moments or over-the-top revelations. - 80
The Guardian
Maybe any biopic risks naïveté in suggesting the agony of postwar Africa can be soothed by a love story about a handsome prince. But this movie has candour, heartfelt self-belief, and an unfashionable conviction that love conquers all - though not immediately. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
Though Asante is no stylist or and no very deep psychologist, she is adept at reaching an audience through direct storytelling. - 75
Consequence
A United Kingdom hits all of the necessary emotional notes and political intrigue of a solid historical figure drama. - 70
Screen Daily
A workmanlike and sometimes clumsy screenplay is not enough to extinguish the spark from this real-life fairytale romance, which delivers both a heartfelt emotional story and a grim lesson in 20th-century British foreign policy. - 67
The Film Stage
Seretse and Ruth eventually stop being individuals, transforming instead into a concept of strength and unity bolstering the real plot despite initially seeming as though they were building it. - 60
ScreenCrush
The real treasure of A United Kingdom is the tender chemistry between Oyelowo and Pike, whose scenes together offer the film’s best moments. - 60
The Telegraph
Pike and Oyelowo have a hearty, wholemeal chemistry together, and play their small moments with sincerity and a light elegance.
