A UNITED KINGDOM

Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana causes an international stir when he marries a white woman from London in the late 1940s. —IMDB

A UNITED KINGDOM suffers from sanitisation. It’s all too nice to look at. The story itself is interesting and significant, but it’s all sweetly acted and oversimplified to the extent that it doesn’t have the emotional power a remarkable true story like this should have. There are a few worthy moments: the developing romance between Seretse (David Oyelowo) and Ruth (Rosamund Pike) is good, and the speeches made by Seretse to his people are moving. There are also some pretty tense moments between Seretse and British government officials that are jaw-dropping. incredible. A UNITED KINGDOM is worth seeing, but it is all a bit too nice and cosy to have a lasting impact.