"A United Kingdom" is based on a true story that took place in the 1940s-1960s in Africa as apartheid was taking hold in that continent. We meet Seretse Khama(David Oyelowo), who is black and future king of Bechuanaland (now called Botswana), where he is studying law in London just after WW2 has ended. At a dance he sees, and meets, Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike), a white English woman office worker. They start off talking about American jazz and before you know it "A United Kingdom" turns into a love story, but not just any love story, one that changed history not only for a small country but affected the politics of England and politicians. 

The soaring love story, and the acting by Oyelowo and Pike, overtake the politics of race, discrimination and the bureaucrats that undermine the will of the people.

There are many shocking scenes in the movie, some you have seen before that have you shaking your head like seeing separate entrances for blacks and white, and some that are new, like finding a beloved figure in history not quite being who you thought he was. There are also many scenes in the movie that will remind you of what is happening outside of the theatre in your real world.

The screenplay by Guy Hibbert brings into play the power that love can bring to people's ideals and at the same time shows that true love can give people strength to face anything from rejection by family, threat of exile from one's country to being shunned by people of their own race.

This is the second picture I have seen by director Amma Asante who, in 2013, introduced to me the beautiful, talented actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the film "Belle". She is now one of those rare directors who films I will go see just because their name is attached to it.

The acting from Oyelowo and Pike to Tom Felton and Jack Davenport representing the British Empire so nastily, to Vusi Kunene and Terry Pheto, Charlotte Hope, Laura Carmichael, Jack Lowden, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Arnold Oceng, among many other supporting players, are all first rate.

"A United Kingdom" is being referred to as a political and romantic drama and though it is a political film bringing events, and people, that may have not been known or remembered such as recent films like "Loving" and "Hidden Figures" to me it is one of the best love stories I have seen in a long time.

I am a sucker for a good love story and whether it is the screenplay, the director or David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pikeso believable as the lovers or a combination of all of them, this is a moving love story that had me in tears more than once.

At the end of the second month of 2017 this is my pick, so far, as best movie of the year! Go see "A United Kingdom"!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5vI4osR50