At one point it looked like Amma Asante (Belle) would be bringing A United Kingdom to theaters for the awards season, and it's probably a good idea she didn't. The film, which stars David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike as an interracial couple whose relationship literally puts nations at risk, would have been swallowed up opposite movies such as Loving, Moonlight, and Hidden Figures which also deal with race. But the film is still arriving soon, and another solid trailer gives us more reason to be excited.
While some of the core themes from Loving are obviously present, A United Kingdom takes them to a much broader scale. Oyelowo plays the King of Botswana who goes against his country's laws by falling in love and marrying a white British woman, played by Pike. And the fallout from his decision caused ripples around the world, leading to his eventual exile. Here's the official synopsis:
A UNITED KINGDOM is the true story of the forbidden love of King Seretse Khama of Botswana (David Oyelowo) and Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike), a white woman from London, which caused an international uproar when they decided to marry in the late 1940’s just as apartheid was being introduced into South Africa. It was a decision that altered the course of African history.
Also starring Tom Felton, Jessica Oyelowo, and Terry Pheto, A United Kingdom opens February 17th 2017.
