A United Kingdom Information

A United Kingdom is a 2016 British biographical romantic drama film directed by Amma Asante and written by Guy Hibbert, based on the true-life romance between Sir Seretse Khama and his wife Ruth Williams Khama. David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike portray Seretse and Ruth, respectively.

It was screened at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, and was the opening film at the 60th London Film Festival, the second year in a row that a British film featured.

Plot

The film is based on a true story. Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo) is the Prince of Bechuanaland (now Botswana). In 1948 he meets and falls in love with London office worker Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike). But their interracial relationship is not approved of by either of their families, nor by the British and South African governments. Seretse and Ruth must defy family, apartheid and the British empire to return from an imposed exile to their African kingdom, and assume power after independence.

Cast

• David Oyelowo as Sir Seretse Khama
• Rosamund Pike as Ruth Williams Khama
• Terry Pheto as Naledi Khama, Seretse's younger sister
• Vusi Kunene as Tshekedi Khama, Seretse's uncle and regent of the Bangwatho Kingdom
• Abena Ayivor as Ella Khama, Tshekedi's wife and Seretse's aunt
• Jack Davenport as Alistair Canning, the British government representative of Southern Africa
• Jack Lowden as Tony Benn
• Donald Molosi as Kabelo
• Tom Felton as Rufus Lancaster
• Charlotte Hope as Olivia Lancaster
• Nicholas Lyndhurst as George Williams, Ruth's father
• Anastasia Hille as Dot Williams, Ruth's mother
• Laura Carmichael as Muriel Williams-Sanderson, Ruth's sister
• Jessica Oyelowo as Lady Lilly Canning

Production

Pike joined the cast in May 2015, with Asante joining shortly afterwards.

In September 2015 Asante revealed that shooting would be split between Botswana and London, and that it would begin in October in preparation for a 2016 release coinciding with the 50th anniversary of independence in Botswana.

In October 2015 actors Jack Davenport and Tom Felton joined the cast.

In November 2015 some filming took place around Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens including Imperial College Union.

The cinematographer was Sam McCurdy and the production designer was Simon Bowles.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2016. It will also screen at the BFI London Film Festival on 6 October 2016. Shortly after, Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired U.S distribution rights to the film. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 25 November 2016. It was scheduled to be released in the United States on 17 February 2017, but was pushed up to 10 February.

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 87% based on 60 reviews, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Well-acted, solidly crafted, and all-around worthy, A United Kingdom presents an absorbing look at a singular true-life love story." On Metacritic the film has a score of 66 out of 100 score, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".