A United Kingdom (2016 film)

A United Kingdom is a biographical romantic drama directed by Amma Asante and written by Guy Hibbert, based on the true-life romance between Sir Seretse Khama who is Prince of Bechuanaland and his wife Ruth Williams Khama of London in the late 1940s. The film premiered at the 2016 Toronto Film Festival on the 9th of September in the year 2016.

Plot
The film is based on the true story of the heir to the throne of Bechuanaland, Seretse Khama of the Bamangwato tribe, who studies law in London immediately after World War II. There he meets a White woman whom he eventually marries, despite the protests of their families, and opposition from the British government, which is concerned about relations with South Africa and the stability of the entire region of Southern Africa.

Seretse discovers that the British have allowed a US mining corporation to prospect for precious stones, and is eager to make sure that, if anything is found, the exploitation of the country's resources should solely be done by the people of Bechuanaland.

Seretse wants his people to support him as king and manages to win their backing, while the British government decides to exile him from his own country. Meanwhile, Ruth has their baby in Bechuanaland and becomes accepted by the local people by "walking the road with them". When the British want to proclaim an administrator to the Bechuana people instead of their king, the tribe refuses to convene a meeting to so do. During this time, diamonds are found and Seretse makes sure that the British government publicly declares that theBechuana people have the sole right to exploit these resources.

Churchill promises, if he were elected, to lift the exile on Seretse; however after his victory he turns the five-year ban into a lifelong one. In London, powerful people start supporting his claim, and he also receives support from the US government. Meanwhile, Apartheid develops in South Africa and begins to overshadow Bechuanaland as well. Eventually, with the help of pressure from local people, he is allowed to return to Betshuana and negotiates its independence from the British. Post-ending text reveals that Seretse oversees the creation of present day Botswana, and that his son subsequently becomes the country's fourth elected president in 2008. It is revealed that Ruth and Seretse are buried side by side on a hilltop overlooking Serowe village, where they had lived for the remainder of their lives.

Trailer
A United Kingdom