Belle (2013) Review

Lucas Versantvoort / 26 Aug 2015

It's hard to look at films about slavery in the same way after the relentless physicality of 12 Years a Slave, especially when they're presented as costume dramas like Belle. Fortunately for us, it manages to tell its unique tale with enough conviction and passion to step out of 12 Years's shadow.

The year is 1765. The four year-old Dido Belle is the daughter of an African slave and a British Royal Navy officer. After her mother dies, he entrusts her to his uncle, William Murray, the Lord Chief Justice, and his wife. Although he's hesitant, he agrees. Dido finds a companion in William's niece, Elizabeth and together they experience a happy childhood, free from the nasty truths regarding racial relations. Yet, in her gut, Dido always felt something was amiss, as when she noticed negroes in paintings were always positioned in such a way as to seem insubordinate to whites. She grows up and marital possibilities are considered. The Ashford family contain suitable candidates for Dido and Elizabeth, but there's also John Davinier, a vicar's son who's William's apprentice. He learns of an incident where a group of slaves were thrown overboard for the sake of the ship. It's to go to trial, a trial considered to be a crucial step in abolishing slavery. 

After the emotional punishment viewers received at the hand of 12 Years's brutal treatment of slavery, Belle seems tame by comparison. Combining slavery with the costume drama genre the Academy loves so much screams 'award bait' at first glance. Yet, if anything, Belle is not tame. Clichéd occasionally, but never tame. In fact, it's the ever-growing emotional intensity of Dido coming to realize the truth about the world and her place in it that form much of the film's core. The script is key in this regard. It's jam-packed--perhaps too much so--with impressive scenes where characters opinionate with the kind of clarity only film can provide. 

As for the acting, much of the praise deserves to go to newcomer Gugu Mbatha-Raw who's very persuasive as Dido. The more Dido becomes aware of her societal position and that she has to take action, the better her acting gets. 

Naturally, since this is a film based on history, there's the question of how much of it is actually based on history. Apparently, Dido wasn't very much involved with the case of the slaves who were thrown overboard. The film suggests her bond with William Murray contributed to his eventual ruling in that case, but apparently, he only called for another hearing where new evidence would have to be presented. Even so, the film's intertwining of both Dido and the case makes sense, because it provides a buildup of tension and emotional release for Dido.

It takes a while for Belle to get going, but once it does, it's pretty involving. Although it lacks the raw intensity of 12 Years a Slave, the intensity is definitely there, particularly during the scenes where Dido confronts others. Not a groundbreaking film, but definitely worth a watch.