Belle

Movie Title--  Belle

Release Year--  2013

Running Time--  1 Hour and 24 Minutes

Director--  Amma Asante

Cast--  Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson, Penelope Wilton, Sarah Gadson, Miranda Richardson, James Norton, Tom Felton, Sam Reid, Matthew Goode

In the 18th century the mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy officer is raised by her aristocratic great-uncle.

Dido Belle Elizabeth Lindsey (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is a illegitmate mixed race child that is taken by her father, Captain Sir John Lindsey (Matthew Goode), a Royal Navy officer to his uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson), for them to raise while he is away in the Navy.  She is to be raised as her position requires not by the color as her skin and she is raised along side her cousin Elizabeth Murray.

I liked this film.  Now that I have seen it the one time, I probably will not see it again but it was worth one look.  The story is very interesting, parts of it being true while of course elements of fiction are mixed in to give it an underlying love story.  

I enjoyed Tom Felton's role in the film, I really think that he does a great job at being a snot nosed little villain.  Tom Wilkinson always does a great job in any film he is in as well.  As far as this film goes, if you like historical period films this one is a pretty good one to view.  Sit down on a rainy afternoon with this film and Don't Forget the Popcorn!  (I am going to leave you with the real commissioned portrait of Belle Lindsey and Elizabeth Murray)