Amma asantes bicultural upbringing influences everything she. The object of my affection is dido elizabeth belle, whose life has been brought to screen by amma asante, the director of the film belle. Amma asante mbe born september 1969 is a british filmmaker, screenwriter, former. Film critic justin chang, writing in variety, praised the films polished craftsmanship and disarming comedyofmanners approach. Amma asante is a british bafta award winning screenwriter and director, known for belle 20, and a way of life 2004. Director ama asante didnt stop until she got this film to the big screen. Apr 20, 2014 this goodlooking british film from black director amma asante takes a different approach to both those stories by examining a significant legal case that helped to weaken the slave trade from the viewpoint of a young, black heiress, dido elizabeth belle impressive newcomer gugu mbatharaw. Awardwinning writer, director and former actress amma asante made her name as cheryl on the uk the childrens tv show grange hill. The late 18 th century period drama belle 20 was directed by britishghanain filmmaker amma asante, and starred gugu mbatharaw as dido belle, the west indiesborn biracial daughter of the nephew of the lord chief justice of england. Even more poignantly, asantes father died during the filming of belle, and she talks movingly about his impact on her work.
The mixedrace daughter, dido elizabeth belle gugu mbatharaw, of royal navy captain sir john lindsay matthew goode is raised by aristocratic greatuncle lord william murray, 1st earl of mansfield tom wilkinson in eighteenth century england. Belle directed by amma asante starring gugu mbatharaw, tom wilkinson, sam reid and sarah gadon on general release in the uk from june 2014. Her first movie, a way of life, which she wrote and directed won her numerous awards, both. Directed by amma asante and written by misan sagay. Belle the pleasures of jane austen and the horrors of the british slave trade make a surprisingly elegant fit in amma asantes handsome period piece. Sarah gadon, amma asante, belle 20, belle 20, amma asante, emily. Here, she talks about her new film, belle, a factbased, historical drama starring gugu mbatharaw about the daughter of an african slave and a british ship captain who was raised in england as an aristocrat. Belle trailer 20 gugu, tom felton, amma asante 2014 movie. Instead, director amma asante a way of life takes a genteel, even breezy approach, as if wooing certainly not wanting. Ghanaianbritish director amma asante s film belle has taken america by storm and established her as a major talent. Belle is inspired by the true story of dido elizabeth belle gugu mbatharaw, the illegitimate mixed race daughter of admiral sir john lindsay matthew goode.
Amma asantes belle may lead to real freedom for women. Jun 19, 2014 culture film features director amma asante on the inspiration behind her film belle. Inspired by a postcard print of sistercousins lady dido elizabeth belle lindsay and lady elizabeth mary murray, writerdirector amma asante has created a complex tale of race, gender, and love that has very clear presentday resonance. Amma asante is a former child actor who starred in grange hill and met nancy reagan. Oct 15, 20 tweetemail tweetemail check out the official trailer for amma asantes belle starring gugu mbatharaw, sam reid, tom wilkinson, emily watson, tom felton, miranda richardson and matthew goode.
She is a former child actress, who began her writing career at the age of 23 with a script deals from both channel 4 in the uk and bbc. Gugu mbatharaw and amma asante talk belle with into film. Amma asantes spirited film is a different class of costume drama 12a dir. A film guide that looks at belle 20, an absorbing costume drama about the illegitimate mixedrace daughter of a royal navy admiral in the 18th century. Director amma asante was swept into the story after seeing a postcard reproduction of a painting where dido, a woman of color, was the focus. Trailer for amma asantes period drama belle youtube. The baftawinning director found the subject for her new film, and a kindred spirit, in a 200year old portrait. Admiral sir john lindsay was a british naval officer and mp in the 18th century. Its a long way from her days on the other side of the camera in. Sort by a z z a by date view 20 per page 40 per page 60 per page 80 per page. Belle trailer 20 official 2014 movie trailer in hd 1080p starring gugu mbatharaw, tom wilkinson, emily watson, sarah gadon, penelope wilton, miranda r. Belle is inspired by the true story of dido elizabeth belle gugu mbatharaw, the. Amma asante unveils first glimpse of belle hollywood. Belle is a 20 british period drama film directed by amma asante, written by misan sagay and produced by damian jones.
It should go down as one of the disgraces of british cinema that it took ten years for the writerdirector amma asante to get the chance to make a followup to her 2004 debut, a way of life. Amma asante mbe born september 1969 is a british filmmaker, screenwriter, former actress, and chancellor at norwich university of the arts, born in london to parents from ghana. Tom wilkinson, emily watson and newcomer gugu mbatharaw star in this poignant drama inspired by. Her historical hunger opened up the story of dido elizabeth belle a mixed race girl who.
Although racism prevents her from enjoying the full advantages of her upbringing, belle s love for an idealistic young man sparks change that may impact generations to come. Amma asante is the director of the hollywood hit movie belle and found that working in hollywood where only 0. We have amma asante, director of belle and a united kingdom published. The thursday night screening was followed by an onstage panel featuring asante, critic and essayist. Director amma asante on the inspiration behind her film belle.
Several followup projects collapsed during the economic crisis but asante has finally made a second film. And it seems hollywood, too, is ready for amma asante, whose drama belle was a breakout hit in 20. Filmmaker amma asante on race, brexit and meeting prince. It stars gugu mbatharaw, tom wilkinson, miranda richardson, penelope wilton, sam reid, matthew goode, emily watson, sarah gadon, tom felton and james norton the film is inspired by the 1779 painting of dido elizabeth belle beside her cousin lady elizabeth murray, at kenwood. Amma asantes bicultural upbringing influences everything. Belle 20 the observer sunday 18th may 2014, by kate kellaway amma asante. I admire how british film director amma asante creatively used a historic work of art as the basis for the film, belle, which highlights the horrors of the 18th century slave trade, and continues a muchneeded dialogue on race, gender, class and what it means to be human. Through asantes skillful interpretation and depiction of didos life in this romantic period film, audiences will find themselves questioning the barbarity of the slave trade along with sexism, classism and. Belle is a goodlooking and exceedingly polite film whe.
Belle by amma asante, albert sharpe amma asante, albert. Belle, directed by amma asante times higher education the. Amma asante, director of belle director amma asantes new film is based on the reallife story of a biracial woman who grew up in an aristocratic english family a story that was. With gugu mbatharaw, matthew goode, emily watson, miranda richardson. The case is bogus as the slaves were diseased and the ships master wanted to claim insurance. Belle falls in love with a young lawyer who is an associate of a man who is trying a case about the death of slaves thrown over the side of a ship. This goodlooking british film from black director amma asante takes a different approach to both those stories by examining a significant legal case that helped to weaken the slave trade from the viewpoint of a young, black heiress, dido elizabeth belle impressive newcomer gugu mbatharaw. Tweetemail tweetemail check out the official trailer for amma asantes belle starring gugu mbatharaw, sam reid, tom wilkinson, emily watson, tom felton, miranda richardson and matthew goode. Ghanaianbritish director amma asantes film belle has taken america by storm and established her as a major talent. Im bicultural, i walk the division that belle walked every day belle. Belle original motion picture soundtrack by rachel portman on.
Oct 02, 2016 even more poignantly, asantes father died during the filming of belle, and she talks movingly about his impact on her work. Belle presents new type of english rose the period drama, about a biracial aristocrat, is more jane austen than 12 years a slave, the director says. Later, she was given the opportunity to travel to washington, dc, for an antidrugs campaign, where she met former first. The power of defining yourself amma asante tedxbrixton. Echoes, surely deliberate, of jane austens mansfield park, frances burneys evelina, even william godwins caleb williams, help to. Indeed, the dido elizabeth belle of amma asantes film is a paradox. Set in 18th century england and based on a real story, amma asante s belle stars relative gugu mbatharaw as the title character full name, dido elizabeth belle. Belle by amma asante, albert sharpe 24543928102 bluray. Bafta award winner amma asante has released the first production still. Where hands touch 2018 a united kingdom 2016 belle 20 a way of life 2004 video. Gugu mbatharaw, tom wilkinson, emily watson, sarah gadon. Amma asantes belle may lead to real freedom for women around.
The official website of bafta award winning writerdirector amma asante. The baftawinning director found the subject for her new film, and a. Belle is a 20 british period drama film directed by amma asante, written by misan sagay and. Belle trailer 20 official 2014 movie trailer in hd 1080p starring gugu mbatharaw, tom wilkinson, emily watson, sarah gadon, penelope wilton, miranda richardson, tom felton, sam reid, matthew goode directed by amma asante the illegitimate, mixedrace daughter of a captain in the royal navy finds her unique social standing become. The belle of the athena film festival interview magazine. Im bicultural, i walk the division that belle walked every day belle ghanaianbritish director amma asantes film belle has taken america by storm and established her as a major talent. Exquisite first trailer for amma asantes belle arrives we.
Nov 16, 2016 and it seems hollywood, too, is ready for amma asante, whose drama belle was a breakout hit in 20. May 02, 2014 thankfully, belle corrects this invisibility. That picture, which explored the tensions contributing to a fictional racist murder in cardiff, showed a director capable of keeping her nerve when faced with the dual temptations of melodrama and blame. Inspired by the true story of dido elizabeth belle, this powerful film stars gugu mbatharaw as the mixedrace daughter of a british navy officer raised by her wealthy greatuncle tom wilkinson and his wife emily watson. It is difficult to imagine a more appropriate opening night film for this past weekends athena film festival than belle directed by amma asante, astounding is the only word to describe belle. She is the illegitimate, mixedrace daughter of british admiral sir john lindsay and a black woman he had an affair with while serving overseas. She will always, she thinks, create benevolent fathers who are also. Culture film features director amma asante on the inspiration behind her film belle.
Director amma asante on the inspiration behind her film belle the. Set in 18th century england and based on a real story, amma asantes belle stars relative gugu mbatharaw as the title character full name, dido elizabeth belle. Like her first, belle is a story of race seen from an oblique angle. Her love for the film industry started when she received her first role in bbcs grange hill. Amma asantes historical romantic fantasy belle has clearly done its homework. Jul 28, 2014 i admire how british film director amma asante creatively used a historic work of art as the basis for the film, belle, which highlights the horrors of the 18th century slave trade, and continues a muchneeded dialogue on race, gender, class and what it means to be human. The film is based on dido elizabeth belle, and depicts an illegitimate mixedrace daughter of. Standing in the middle of the afterparty for the premiere of my new movie, belle, a few nights ago, prince yes, prince thanked me and the. Dec 20, 20 belle trailer 20 official 2014 movie trailer in hd 1080p starring gugu mbatharaw, tom wilkinson, emily watson, sarah gadon, penelope wilton, miranda richardson, tom felton, sam reid, matthew goode directed by amma asante the illegitimate, mixedrace daughter of a captain in the royal navy finds her unique social standing become. Belle helps the young lawyer with the case and finally love triumphs. Download the tv guide app for iphone, ipad and android.
Through asante s skillful interpretation and depiction of didos life in this romantic period film, audiences will find themselves questioning the barbarity of the slave trade along with sexism, classism and. Exquisite first trailer for amma asantes belle arrives. Set in 18th century england and based on a real story, amma asantes belle stars relative gugu mbatharaw as the title. Its focus is a real woman whose horizons were narrowed by prejudice but who nevertheless enjoyed a life of greater privilege than some white members of society and even of her own family.
Amma asante is a massive prince fan who had a private meeting with the popfunk. Amma asante on casting gugu mbatharaw behind the scenes. Although racism prevents her from enjoying the full advantages of her upbringing, belles love for an idealistic young man sparks change that may impact generations to come. The ghanianbritish baftawinner is a new member of the academy, reflecting her position as an. It stars gugu mbatharaw, tom wilkinson, miranda richardson, penelope wilton, sam reid, matthew goode, emily watson, sarah gadon, tom felton and james norton. But for the selfdescribed bicultural asante, her work and. Oct 17, 20 belle trailer 20 official 2014 movie trailer in hd 1080p starring gugu mbatharaw, tom wilkinson, emily watson, sarah gadon, penelope wilton, miranda r. Belle trailer 20 gugu, tom felton, amma asante 2014. Amma asante and gugu mbatharaw at uk premiere of belle at the bfi southbank, london on june 5th 2014 ref.