A Beautiful Belle

by Mary Jo

I love a movie that combines real history with period elegance, powerful themes, and a good romance, and Belle is such a movie.  It's based on the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle, an 18th century woman of mixed blood.  Her mother Maria Belle was an African born slave in the West Indies, but her father was a British naval officer, Captain John Lindsey, who eventually became an admiral.

After her mother's death, Dido's father took her to England and put her into the keeping of his uncle, Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, perhaps the most influential judge in Britain..  I first came across Lord Mansfield when I was researching A Distant Magic, my historical/fantasy/romance that was built around the 18th century British abolition movement.  Lord Mansfield was probably the most notable British jurist of the century, and he was influential in two court cases that helped toward the abolition of slavery and the slave trade.  

Lord Mansfield and his wife were childless and they lovingly raised their two grandnieces, Dido and her cousin Lady Elizabeth Mansfield, whose mother had died.  Using a framework of the known historical facts, director and writer Amma Assante (whose parents were from Ghana) spins a tale of what it was like to be a mixed race girl raised among British aristocrats.  

I'm sure some liberties were taken for the sake of the story, but it all works beautifully. I like the contrast of the mixed blood but well dowered Dido with her beautiful but penniless cousin.  Both want loving marriages, which aren't easy to find.  (Yes, there's a happy ending, I wouldn't recommend a movie otherwise!)  

The movie incorporates a famous portrait of Dido and her cousin.  It was commissioned by Lord Mansfield, and it's unusual in that it's probably the first portrait that portray a mixed blood figure and a European one on the same sight lines--essentially, it shows them as equals.  (Though Dido is shown in more exotic costume.)

Much of the power of Belle comes from weaving Dido's story in with one of the two great legal decisions involving slavery made by Lord Mansfield: the Zong Massacre,  one of the great horrors of the infamous Middle Passage.  

The movie is very well cast, with Tom Wilkinson as Lord Mansfield and Miranda Richardson as his wife.  The central role of Dido is played by British actress Gugu Mbatha Raw, who is herself of mixed blood.  The film received numerous award nominations and a number of wins.  

Have you seen BELLE?  Would you like to?  It's a lovely real life historical romance that's well worth hunting out.  What are your favorite historically based movies?  One of my favorites is Amazing Grace, the story of William Wilberforce, the great legislator and reformer who worked tirelessly for decades to end the slave trade. What are some great ones? 

Mary Jo

Comments

[Sonya Heaney]

You know, I was so excited for this movie! However, the only times I saw it were on international flights (four times, I think), on those tiny screens - and without sound!

When I got back to Australia it was just finishing at the theatres. I just commented two days ago that we have to buy it, but now I'm stuck watching (and re-watching) Poldark - which starts in the US in a few days - so it has to wait. :)

As for historical accuracy: From what I’ve read there was not much information about the woman, so they took the facts they knew and elaborated quite a lot. However, I appreciate how “historical” it feels, which a lot of television and cinema doesn’t achieve at the moment.

[Janice]

I loved this movie and have watched it several times. It's beautiful to watch, especially in bluray. You have, however, failed to mention that Matthew Goode looks wonderful in his naval uniform, and James Norton (Grantchester) is in it too.

[Fiona Marsden]

I saw it twice in the cinemas. It was a lovely movie. I also bought it on dvd.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Sonya, I NEVER watch movies I want to see on an airplane because it does not do a good movie justice. (And utter destroys mediocre movies.) So buying a DVD or streaming it after Poldark makes sense. *G*

You're right that not a lot of details of her life are known, but (SPOILER ALERT!)her love interest in the movie has the name of the man the real Dido married. (They had two or three children.) As you say, they conveyed a real historical sensibility even if some elements were created to make the story work.

[Mary Jo Putney]

LOL! Sorry to have neglected such important elements, Janice. *G* The look of the movie--and its actors!-- is indeed wonderful. Eye candy plus history--delicious!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Fiona, I'm considering buying the DVD also because it's the sort of movie I'll probably want to watch again. I've seen AMAZING GRACE (Ioan Griffith! Benedict Cumberbatch before he hit it big!)at least three times. And yes, I did buy the DVD. It's a wonderful, powerful movie.

[Jmcgarry05]

If've never seen this movie. When I saw the poster, I thought it was a remake of Beauty and the Beast. The princess in that was named Belle.

[Susan/DC]

I'm a big fan of "Belle". The costumes are gorgeous and the sense of time and place are very well done. Lord Mansfield may have come to the same legal decision on the Zong massacre even if Belle had not grown up in the heart of his family, but I would think that knowing her influenced his view of others who looked like her. When my husband and I were in London last September, we visited Kenwood house, Lord Mansfield's home. It's a lovely house and it added depth to think of Dido and her cousin living there.

[Sue W. McCormick]

I don't know that I have an favorite historical movie, but I did enjoy Amazing Grace and I remember it well.

We still buy many DVD's because streaming is limited to what is currently being shown, but with DVD's you can watch at your own timing.

[Mary Jo Putney]

True, but Disney was 200 years later than Dido Elizabeth Belle. *G* The actress who played her is certainly a beauty, though, and the movie is well worth seeing.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Oooh, you've been to Kenwood House! I'm sure you could see the two cousins flitting through the shrubbery, laughing together.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Sue, I also still buy DVDs of things I really like. With Netflix, there's a huge range of thing available for streaming all the time, but I tend to find streaming less reliable than DVDs. Usually it works fine. And sometimes it doesn't. One doesn't have those problems with DVDs!

[Christina Brooke]

Hi Mary Jo, I thought Belle was a beautiful film. I'd been researching legal history in that era for a new book so it was lovely to revel in the movie bringing research to life. Of course they did take liberties and I felt that it didn't do justice to Mansfield himself but I understand the dramatic imperative. And to be completely frivolous, the costuming and settings were sublime, weren't they?

I'm looking forward to a BBC television movie about Seymour, Lady Worsley coming soon. Should be good!

Also looking forward to seeing you in Melbourne soon!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Hi, Christina! Nothing wrong with admiring a beautiful production. I hadn't heard of the BBC movie you mentioned, but presumably it will make its way her soon.

See you--two months!!! (AND I HAVE A BOOK TO FINISH!!!! As do you, probably. *G*)

[Janice]

Would this be Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones), Shaun Evans (Endeavour) and Aneurin Barnard (The White Queen) in "The Woman in Red"? Based on the Hallie Rubenhold book originally called Lady Worsley's Choice? It looks delicious :)

Rubenhold also worked on City of Vice, about the Fielding Brothers, a few years ago.

[Elinor Aspen]

We missed the movie during its brief arthouse run, but we saw it on cable a few months ago. The costumes and sets are indeed stunning. The portrait was not really an egalitarian depiction, however. You will notice that Belle is carrying a tray of fruit, and she is bowing in a subservient posture, while Elizabeth is seated. The version of the portrait created for the movie changes those details in order to establish that Belle was treated as an equal within the family.

[Janice]

To me it looks as if Belle is carrying a basket of stuff (not a serving tray), and she's rising from a shared bench (not bowing). It doesn't give me the impression that she's bringing out lunch as if she were a servant. Elizabeth is reaching out a hand to touch her. I can see where to some it would look like Elizabeth is gesturing Belle to stay back, but she could equally be reaching out to bring her forward, or to sit back down again. It's a lovely painting in any case. I'll freeze frame it the next time I watch the movie and study it further :)

[Claire]

I just reserved the movie DVD through inter-library loan, and I'm #167 on the wait list. I will keep my eyes open for it elsewhere. I am looking forward to watching it, especially as it is based on the lives of real people. I recently read a book by Carla Kelly that had a very similar theme. It's title is Softly Falling. I enjoy the stories where the characters are able to overcome socio-economic obstacles in a "real life" manner, even when the endings are bittersweet.

[Mary Jo Putney]

This was less than fully egalitarian, but it was more so than anything else that had been done. I agree with Janice that she's carrying a basket, not a tray, and her gown and jewelry are those of a gentlewoman, not a servant. As you say, the version made for the movie tweaked it to modify some of the more problematic bits. Lovely, though.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Carla has always been great about writing stories of "real people," and she's a fine researcher, too, so perhaps she was inspired by some this real story.

I hope the library is circulating multiple copies of the DVD so your wait isn't too long!

[Janice]

Dramatic license - I'm sure you have one too ;)

[Bona]

I haven't seen Belle yet, but it looks like a very interesting movie that align with my tastes.
Favorite historically based movies? That's a very difficult question. There are so many of them! And I'm not sure where to consider that the contemporary age ends and History begins. Anything before 1969 is History for me. Are you asking about movies set in the past or movies that talk about a Historical episode?
To name a few... One of my favourite movies ever was Tavernier's Captain Conan, that is set in the First World War as it was another winner, Paths of Glory, directed by Kubrick and, in a part, Out of Africa.
If you want to go back in time, I also loved Roland Joffé's The Mission, with that wonderful music composed by Morricone.
Of course, The Killing Fields can be also considered History, 20th century History.
Spartacus, Lawrence of Arabia, Amadeus are all of them movies that partly reflect real histories set in the past, and I also enjoy them each time I watch them.
BTW, the name of the actor is Tom Wilkinson -a popular English character actor that we've seen in the TV Mini-series "John Adams", and movies like Michael Clayton, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Shakespeare in Love, Full Monty...

[nancy]

I missed the movie when it was here. We had an excellent presentation at a Jane Austen meeting about the movie and the history behind it. I had read about the Mansfield decision , of course.
The woman who gave the talk had scenes from the movie and historical illustrations. She also told us what was known about Dido.
I think I will have to buy it.

I do not watch many movies and most of those I own are Jane Austen adaptions--
I do have Amazing Grace even though it has as many errors as Swiss cheese has holes-- Many have commented on much like Pitt the younger the actor looked. One has to watch the movie a couple of times to keep track of the chronological changes. It seems to jump around chronologically. Still it is one of the few movies I bought and have re-watched since I saw it in the theater.

[Shannon]

I went when it opened with my usual ladies, one of whom "can't see." I was happy, teary at the end, and here I was reading her the historical details at the end, gulping back those tiny little sobs. I haven't bought the DVD. I still have Frozen from my last big box store visit. Somehow books just tempt me more when I'm home.

[Anne]

I "LURRVED" this movie--except when Belle was ostracized at dinner and her 'non-come out'. I love ALL historical film and fiction. My favorite is "Queen Margot" and the depiction of corruption of the 16th French court, Marie Medici, and the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Indeed I do. *G* I think all authors have things they consider okay to modify, and things we won't do. I usually put an author's note at the end to explain what really happened and any minor deviations I've done.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Ouch on my mistake with Tom Wilkinson's name! He's terrific and I've seen him in so many things. Including The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. A wonderful actor.

You're right that the definition of "historical" is pretty fuzzy. Certainly WWII and before qualify. And you get to draw your line more recently than I do!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Nancy--AMAZING GRACE did take its share of dramatic license, and I suppose the story structure was their way of dealing with the very long period of time covered. But it's a powerful story well told. Wilberforce was a remarkable man.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Shannon--like you, I'll usually go for a book before TV, but the Mayhem Consultant and I enjoy watching DVDs together three evenings a week. Which is why I'm not hopeless out of touch.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Anne, I've not seen QUEEN MARGOT, but it sounds worth hunting down. As of Belle's ostracization--they were probably underplaying that, but it's too much a part of her story to ignore.

[Jobev]

Christina, thanks for the mention of The Scandalous Lady W. I don't keep track of what's on TV here, but I'll want to catch that one.

[Jobev]

Queen Margot is splendid, but pretty bloody. The French seem to like their movie history violent and scheming. Something to do with the Revolution? Or vice-versa?

There was the TV series ages ago called Les Rois Maudits (The Accursed Kings) which was all the more powerful for being in black and white. There's a new version, but it's not come to the UK yet. I've seen bits on You Tube, and though the costumes etc are great it doesn't seem to have the same power.

[Karin]

I'd love to see this, and Amazing Grace. I missed the short movie run, so I may have to get the DVD.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Jo, I did wonder about the violence factor when I saw the time period. Probably too much for a wimp like me.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Karin, I don't think you'd regret buying DVDs of either of these movies, but if you want to test drive them first, they might be in the DVD collection of your local library.