This is an astonishing documentary that will wring your heart while it bends your mind

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I like history in film. Nice recreation of the love of the prince with an english commoner. The film depicts it very well and makes points of the strenghts and weakenesses/flaws of all participants that contributed toward the good ending. Trade won the war, apparently, for the love.

In post-war London, Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike) falls for law student Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo). She's surprised to be told that he's the heir to the throne of Bechuanaland. It's a poor sparsely populated country in southern Africa. Despite all the forces against them, they decide to get married. Her parents disown her. South Africa and other surrounding countries are imposing Apartheid and oppose their interracial marriage. The British Government first under Labour and then Churchill need South Africa. There is general racism throughout. There is segregation even in Seretse's own country. Government official Sir Alistair Canning (Jack Davenport) and commissioner Rufus Lancaster (Tom Felton) aim to impose British rule over the local population. Seretse is even opposed by his uncle Tshekedi Khama and sister Naledi Khama who sees Ruth as an outsider. The couple puts the idea of love conquers all to the test.This is a standard bio. I don't know much about this history and it's great to see it on the screen. It's also very fitting in the world today. I am also reminded of the upcoming Royal wedding in one of the scenes. It's easy but it's fitting. The central love story also works because the two actors are so sincere. There is nothing flashy about them or this movie. It's well told and suddenly relevant in the modern world.

A wonderful beautiful, dramatic, compelling and sensitive film. It is a romance, a political drama, and an historical documentary all in one. The acting is superb. The cinematography both in sunny, scenic Africa and foggy, wet London is masterful. There are a couple of minor discrepancies. For example the word "black" is repeated many times but in 1947, the usual term was "negro" or "coloured." A few other discrepancies turn up in the "goofs" section. But they don't really matter nor do they detract from what in all respects is a cinematic masterpiece. It goes on my top five list!

A United Kingdom is based on the true story of Seretse Khama and the woman he married, Ruth. Seretse, heir to the throne in his native Bechuanaland, is sent as an orphan to study in London where he meets Ruth. Their union is frowned upon by all involved, with racial undertones and government meddling behind it. The movie shows the perseverance of the couple against all that.The story feels familiar, partly because we so recently saw David Oyelowo play Martin Luther King in Selma, another role where race was a major factor. Even though this is a love story at heart, many of the same beats are felt.That, however, doesn't take away from the impact of the movie. The viewer is given time to get to know the characters and their motivation and truly become invested. When Seretse and Ruth meet up against their various obstacles whether in London or Africa the emotion can be felt.The one thing missing from the movie is a true sense of growing unrest by the people being wronged. A key point in the movie is Seretse's banishment from his home to London, and while his people he would serve as king are shown to stand against it, there is never a notion that things could turn for the worse. It would have helped add to the tension if that had been shown, but the focus is clearly more of the love story between Ruth and Seretse.Overall, the film is highly recommended for its love story, its history and its portrayal of perseverance in the face of inequality.