Review of Belle (2013) by Laura S — 11 Jan 2017

Film Review of 'Belle' - A Revitalised Picture.

Belle is a British production, was released in 2013, is directed by Amma Asante and Misan Sagay wrote the screenplay. It stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Emily Watson. The film can be classified as a female biopic and is based on the story of Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay, the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy British Royal Navy Officer. A painting of Dido and her cousin was used as inspiration for the movie.

The film details the events of Dido's life. She was born in the West-Indies and lived with her mother. The storyline starts after her mother's death, when Dido's father takes custody of her, moving her to his family estate, where she lives with her uncle, the Earl of Mansfield and the Lord Chief Justice, and together with her aunt and her cousin Elizabeth. Dido is loved and accepted by her family, although she is not allowed to dine with them. The two girls are raised as sisters, even though Dido is mixed-race. The film portrays the struggle of Dido's coming-of-age, in a society in which she was unique and an outsider. It gives insight into the family dynamic, and particularly the way Dido was treated by her family. The love for Dido induces her uncle to decide in favour of slaves, in a very important case at court. A central element of the film is the production of a painting of Dido and her cousin. The film concludes with Dido realising she has to follow her heart and decide for herself whom to marry, and finally she finds her position in society.

The filmmakers use the portrait as a basis for their narrative. However, the original painting shows two women on eye-to-eye basis, nevertheless Dido is presented as exotic and wild through the turban and her pose. Instead of using this original portrait and introducing a more critical perspective of the colonial situation portrayed, the filmmakers adjusted the portrait to fit the plot.

The "revitalisation" of the picture is reached through spectacular costumes and make-up as well as typical British scenery, which suggests this is a heritage film. However, the plot would lend itself more towards a postcolonial movie.

In conclusion, I would argue that Belle is a well-made film. The mise-en-scene elements in particular, such as bright costumes and appropriate lightning, breathed life into the portrait, but I would ultimately have preferred a more critical perspective.