It's been said that Jane Austen's "Mansfield's Park" was a brilliant fairy-tale, though not to take this claim in a disparaging way. Being that the romantic sub-plots would have been deemed impossible had it not been for their limitless supply of wealth and that their prized investments came from "cheap slave labour". It seems that in Austen's world, the economic stability that embodies the characters depicted in her books seem to be dependent on dirty money (hence the origin of the sum "filthy rich") although it's questionable if Austen ever intended it that way. But, still it's pretty unnerving when you think about it, maybe that's why rich people get a bad rap not for the the money but how they make it and it's a shame that romantic tales are catering to the rich and wealthy. Though inspired by the works of Miss Austen, the 2013 movie "Belle" was based off of actual events follows a similar path that Austen takes in her story not fully in line with period drama, but focusing on an emancipated half-black woman living the societal structures in 18th century Britain.
Directed by Amma Asante and the script written by Misan Sagay, "Belle" centres around the illegitimate mixed-race child of an African Slave named Maria Belle and of a Royal Navy Captain John Lindsay (Matthew Goode) born with a silver spoon in his mouth, well-educated, and rather scorned upon by his highly-esteemed extended family who takes guardianship upon raising her after he could no longer continue due to declining health. Though she was called Belle by her father, her aunts and uncles arrogantly referred to her as Dido, she blossoms into a elegant young woman played by heart by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. And though she is strong willed who obviously gets discarded due to her race, even though the suitors who want to propose to her are interesting. But due to her rich inheritance, she's just another Austen heroine and the guys proposing her are marrying her because of her powerful background contrary to her struggling step-cousin Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) who was disinherited by her father (Tom Wilkinson) which is original that the poor white girl has the disadvantage to the wealthy mixed girl.
In the process, Wilkinson's character is the powerful judge Lord Mansfield who's involved in an investment which focuses on slave ship while putting his thoughts in question if it's morally right for humans to be treated like cargo. Dido knows about this case in small fragments but gets better informed from a sensitive vicar's son, John Davinier (Sam Reid) who's an apprentice to Mansfield until they have an unsettling altercation about the case. Dido's self-awareness grows as does her love for John. But her aunts Countess of Mansfield (Emily Watson) and Lady Mary Murray (Penelope Wilton) are trying to steer Dido away from John and instead luring her towards a relationship with the sensitive Oliver Ashford (Jamie Norton) who's mother Lady Ashford (Miranda Richardson) wants him to marry Dido for her wealth. While his older brother James (Tom Felton still acting like Draco Malfoy) is also in it for her heritage who even goes far as to abruptly assault Dido and proposes to Elizabeth but backs away when he discovers she's poor.
Though the script and the performances were all very good, the red herring comes from what kind of a sub-genre it wants to be. It can't decide if it wants to be an Austen inspired period piece or a social commentary drama. You can't have it both ways. Director Asante falls in familiar territory as with other conventional directors. In the opening scenes, the drama kicks in with familiar territory where people are there but their faces are cut from the camera.Sure it may look dramatic at first, but it lacks originality. In the end, "Belle" has some great points of interest, but the execution deprives the movie from being both engaging or wrenching.
Directed by Amma Asante and the script written by Misan Sagay, "Belle" centres around the illegitimate mixed-race child of an African Slave named Maria Belle and of a Royal Navy Captain John Lindsay (Matthew Goode) born with a silver spoon in his mouth, well-educated, and rather scorned upon by his highly-esteemed extended family who takes guardianship upon raising her after he could no longer continue due to declining health. Though she was called Belle by her father, her aunts and uncles arrogantly referred to her as Dido, she blossoms into a elegant young woman played by heart by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. And though she is strong willed who obviously gets discarded due to her race, even though the suitors who want to propose to her are interesting. But due to her rich inheritance, she's just another Austen heroine and the guys proposing her are marrying her because of her powerful background contrary to her struggling step-cousin Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) who was disinherited by her father (Tom Wilkinson) which is original that the poor white girl has the disadvantage to the wealthy mixed girl.
In the process, Wilkinson's character is the powerful judge Lord Mansfield who's involved in an investment which focuses on slave ship while putting his thoughts in question if it's morally right for humans to be treated like cargo. Dido knows about this case in small fragments but gets better informed from a sensitive vicar's son, John Davinier (Sam Reid) who's an apprentice to Mansfield until they have an unsettling altercation about the case. Dido's self-awareness grows as does her love for John. But her aunts Countess of Mansfield (Emily Watson) and Lady Mary Murray (Penelope Wilton) are trying to steer Dido away from John and instead luring her towards a relationship with the sensitive Oliver Ashford (Jamie Norton) who's mother Lady Ashford (Miranda Richardson) wants him to marry Dido for her wealth. While his older brother James (Tom Felton still acting like Draco Malfoy) is also in it for her heritage who even goes far as to abruptly assault Dido and proposes to Elizabeth but backs away when he discovers she's poor.
Though the script and the performances were all very good, the red herring comes from what kind of a sub-genre it wants to be. It can't decide if it wants to be an Austen inspired period piece or a social commentary drama. You can't have it both ways. Director Asante falls in familiar territory as with other conventional directors. In the opening scenes, the drama kicks in with familiar territory where people are there but their faces are cut from the camera.Sure it may look dramatic at first, but it lacks originality. In the end, "Belle" has some great points of interest, but the execution deprives the movie from being both engaging or wrenching.