Tuesday 6 December 2016


Two films this week, both about inter-racial marriages. Loving is the story of Richard and Mildred Loving whose home state of Virginia refused to countenance their marriage in 1958. (Shockingly, it was 1967 before the Supreme Court ruled that this was unconstitutional, and sadly Richard was killed by a drunken driver in 1975.)
It is a very quiet, restrained film - perhaps a bit too restrained for dramatic effect. But it is a very tender depiction of a marriage that endured and a quiet, inarticulate man whose message to the court was simply, 'Tell the judge I love my wife.' Ruth Negga, who plays Mildred, is simply beautiful. Here's a bit more on the historical background and the trailer is here.

A United Kingdom Poster
But as a film, I think I preferred this one - A United Kingdom, the true story of the romance between Ruth Williams, a typist from South London, who fell for an African law student whose life was already mapped out to be King of Bechuanaland. The skulduggery of the British authorities is quite riveting - perhaps I'm naive, but I was shocked at Attlee's craven stance towards South Africa and gasped at duplicitous Churchill, though I suppose I should have seen that one coming. I think the romance of Ruth and Seretse must have captured the hearts of the nation - or at least feminine hearts - because I remember my mum still talking about them when I was a child. Another trailer here. (Look out for Downton's Lady Edith making a brief appearance as Ruth's sister.)

2 comments:

Vronni's Style Meanderings said...

I knew about 'United Kingdom' and am looking forward to seeing it, but I hadn't heard of 'Loving'. I'm particularly interested in the subject matter as I have been in biracial relationships since 1972.

My bookshelves are now back to tidy - I took all those strays horizontally parked on top of the vertical rows of books and have stacked them on the floor under the bottom bookshelf - much better! My reading plan is to tackle the floor dwellers first in between library reservations...

Veronica

Mary said...

I think you'd enjoy both of these films, Veronica - so shocking to think that this was America as late as 1967. A United Kingdom probably has more mass-appeal, though - maybe just a bigger budget!
Congratulations on the bookshelves. I had cupboards built under my shelves and now really miss my extra stacking space!