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By Sandra Olmsted

Director Amma Asante successfully makes the big leap from TV series to feature films with Belle, which is based on a true story. Belle, played exquisitely by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, is the illegitimate daughter of an enslaved African woman and Captain Sir John Lindsay (Matthew Goode), a British Navel Officer, who brings young Belle (Lauren Julien-Box) to his family to raise in England when her mother dies. Although having a mixed race child and family member scandalizes their society, the gruff but kindhearted Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson), England’s Lord Chief Justice, and the equally kindhearted but practical Lady Mary Murray (Emily Watson) immediately like young Belle, and while raising her with their other illegitimate young niece, Elizabeth Murray (Cara Jenkins as a child and Sarah Gadon as an adult) find ways to cope with the challenges of preparing Belle for the world she will live in as the “mulatto”  lady with the privilege of class and the complication of race in a segregated society with a slave trade economy.

Meanwhile, Belle must also negotiate all the problems that being a woman in England, circa 1800. To foreshadow one possible future for the beautiful Belle, the household also includes Lord Manfield’s spinster sister, Lady Mary Murray (Penelope Wilton), who lost her opportunity for marriage and love as a young woman. In Jane Austen fashion, Lady Murray focuses on settling her two nieces in suitable and safe lives. While Belle has an inheritance from her father, which makes her an asset for marriage and provides for her security, Elizabeth has nothing, and the need to find Elizabeth a suitable match is imperative.

Lady Mansfield hopes that Elizabeth’s future will be with Lady Ashford’s (Miranda Richardson) son, James Ashford (Tom Felton), who as the oldest son will inherit everything in accordance with English law and tradition. Elizabeth seems unable to see past the vast Ashford fortune to the real and unsavory James. Meanwhile, Oliver Ashford (James Norton) the younger brother whose family purchased him a commission in the navy, takes an interest in Belle. Unfortunately, James reveals his racist nature, complicating Belle and Elizabeth’s sisterly love for each other.

In addition to the complication of her relationship with Elizabeth, Belle struggles with the fact that Lord Mansfield, who she loves and respects as a father, must decide a case involving the murder of Africans on a slave ship. While struggling with the legal, moral, and ethical issues of the case, Lord Mansfield takes on John Davinier (Sam Reid), the local vicar’s son as a law student. In Austen-esque fashion, Belle finds John repellent initially and immediately. Belle’s relationship with John adds a further highlights Belle complicated relationship with her family, society, and culture.

Although Belle, the film, struggled for seven years to reach the big screen, the terrific cast makes the film. Wilkinson, Watson, Wilton, and Richardson, talented veterans of English costume dramas, show deliver exceptional performance as does Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, shows he can handle costume drama of the traditional sort and furthers his career as the bad guy. Belle is a lavish and luscious film with beautiful cinematography by Ben Smithard and gorgeous production design by Simon Bowles. Anushia Nieradzik’s detailed costumes, Rachel Portman’s evocative score, and Misan Sagay’s thoughtful script make Belle a compelling film. In theaters now, Belle, a Fox Searchlight Pictures release, is rated PG for thematic elements, some language and brief smoking images and runs 105 minutes.

More of Olmsted’s reviews are available at <www.thecinematicskinny.com>.

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