A United Kingdom
A United Kingdom is based on extraordinary true events. In 1947, Seretse Khama, the King of Botswana, met Ruth Williams, a London office worker. The attraction was immediate: she was captivated by his vision for a better world, he was struck by her willingness to embrace it. Both felt liberated by the social upheaval that followed the war - Seretse sensed the opportunity for change as the Empire weakened, Ruth saw the possibility for a “bigger life” as women pushed for independence and equality. They were a perfect match, yet their proposed marriage was challenged not only by their families but by the British and South African governments. The latter had recently introduced the policy of apartheid and found the notion of a biracial couple ruling a neighbouring country intolerable. South Africa threatened the British: either thwart the couple or be denied access to South African uranium (vital for the British nuclear program) and gold (vital to replenish reserves following the war) and face the risk of South Africa invading Botswana. Despite the terrible pressures they faced, Seretse and Ruth never wavered - they fought for their love every step of the way, and in so doing changed their nation and inspired the world.
A United Kingdom is directed by Amma Asante (Belle, A Way of Life). It is written for the screen by Guy Hibbert (Eye in the Sky, Five Minutes of Heaven) who adapted it from Susan Williams’s book Colour Bar. It stars David Oyelowo (Selma, Jack Reacher), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Jack Reacher), Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Talented Mr. Ripley) and Terry Pheto (Tsotsi, Mandela) and Tom Felton (Harry Potter). Sam McCurdy (The Descent, Game of Thrones) is director of photography. The production designer is Simon Bowles (Belle, Hyde Park on the Hudson). Jenny Beavan (The King’s Speech, Mad Max) and Anushia Nieradzik (Belle) are the costume designers, and Patrick Doyle (Hamlet, Sense and Sensibility) composed the music. Jonathan Amos (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) and Jon Gregory (Mr. Turner, In Bruges) edited the film. A United Kingdom is produced by Rick McCallum (Star Wars, Red Tails), alongside David Oyelowo, Peter Heslop, Brunson Green (The Help), Justin Moore-Lewy and Charlie Mason. Cameron McCracken of Pathé is executive producer alongside Christine Langan for the BBC and Natascha Wharton for the BFI and Eleanor Clark Windo for Ingenious. The film’s screenwriter Guy Hibbert is also an executive producer.
Classification 12A