I know, I know, I'm bad at keeping promises. Please don't throw squashed tomatoes yet. I vow to keep my promise this time. As of now, here's a review on a wonderful, inspiring and eye-opening movie based a singularly rare upbringing of a child.
In the year 1761 with the beginning of slavery, came a story of a girl born to a family but destined to be in another. With a black mother and a white father, she tussled between their differences. After her mother's death, her father, Captain Sir John Lindsay of the British Royal Navy, takes her to London announcing her as the sole heir to all his wealth after his death. After explaining the situation to his family in London, and after witnessing much protest from his uncle, William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, it was decided that the girl would be named Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay and would stay in the Kenwood House. Dido had a companion as well. Along with her, William Murray was raising another niece of his, Lady Elizabeth Murray who's mother had died and father had remarried.
Together, through the blissful days of childhood, both Dido and Beth became the best of friends. But, there was one thing in the back of Dido's mind. Seeing so many paintings in the manor she understood that a black person was always beneath a white person, yet never had the courage to ask why she was different.
Days moved on and soon the two girls were stepping into the age of being courted. As guests came over to dine and see the two girls, Dido was always unwelcome to have dinner with her family and met them later after dinner. All her enthusiasm dies down when she realises that she too will be judged according to her colour and she won't have any say in the matter.
Time moves on and the plot emerges. Dido's father's death on a ship, suitors and others questioning the existence of a black female in a white aristocratic family and slavery shaken from its roots, the little girl who was taken from the slums to live a life she was born for, finally learns the truth. Colour over blood was the way of things. Does she accept herself as one of their own or does she succumb to her mother's half?
A moving tale set in one of the most controversial yet beautiful times of England, Belle was one movie I felt connected to. Her battle against herself and others regarding the colour of her skin was somewhere I've been. Being a South Indian, I'm kind of on the darker shade of colour. Coming to Delhi, where most people are even fairer than Snow White herself, it was difficult to accept that I will be different. One particular scene in the movie, where Dido is sitting in her room, staring at her reflection does something that hurts more than ever. The way she tries to rub off and claw away her skin just to be accepted in society was one of the saddest scenes of this movie. But, the beauty of the movie is in the transformation of Dido from a girl of the slums to a girl of the aristocracy, questioning every detail of her life and waiting for an answer. It's a history based movie, but I recommend it if you're in for a bit of heavy drama, love and tears.
Sudden realisation, this is my 80th review! It has been a long journey and every moment has been unbelievable. Thank you for going through all my writings and appreciating them. Most of all, thank you for your patience and I really am going to continue blogging for a while. Another big thank you to all those friends who keep reminding me that I'm a blogger and I should post at least one review every week. Here's to the next 80!
In the year 1761 with the beginning of slavery, came a story of a girl born to a family but destined to be in another. With a black mother and a white father, she tussled between their differences. After her mother's death, her father, Captain Sir John Lindsay of the British Royal Navy, takes her to London announcing her as the sole heir to all his wealth after his death. After explaining the situation to his family in London, and after witnessing much protest from his uncle, William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, it was decided that the girl would be named Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay and would stay in the Kenwood House. Dido had a companion as well. Along with her, William Murray was raising another niece of his, Lady Elizabeth Murray who's mother had died and father had remarried.
Together, through the blissful days of childhood, both Dido and Beth became the best of friends. But, there was one thing in the back of Dido's mind. Seeing so many paintings in the manor she understood that a black person was always beneath a white person, yet never had the courage to ask why she was different.
Days moved on and soon the two girls were stepping into the age of being courted. As guests came over to dine and see the two girls, Dido was always unwelcome to have dinner with her family and met them later after dinner. All her enthusiasm dies down when she realises that she too will be judged according to her colour and she won't have any say in the matter.
Time moves on and the plot emerges. Dido's father's death on a ship, suitors and others questioning the existence of a black female in a white aristocratic family and slavery shaken from its roots, the little girl who was taken from the slums to live a life she was born for, finally learns the truth. Colour over blood was the way of things. Does she accept herself as one of their own or does she succumb to her mother's half?
A moving tale set in one of the most controversial yet beautiful times of England, Belle was one movie I felt connected to. Her battle against herself and others regarding the colour of her skin was somewhere I've been. Being a South Indian, I'm kind of on the darker shade of colour. Coming to Delhi, where most people are even fairer than Snow White herself, it was difficult to accept that I will be different. One particular scene in the movie, where Dido is sitting in her room, staring at her reflection does something that hurts more than ever. The way she tries to rub off and claw away her skin just to be accepted in society was one of the saddest scenes of this movie. But, the beauty of the movie is in the transformation of Dido from a girl of the slums to a girl of the aristocracy, questioning every detail of her life and waiting for an answer. It's a history based movie, but I recommend it if you're in for a bit of heavy drama, love and tears.
Sudden realisation, this is my 80th review! It has been a long journey and every moment has been unbelievable. Thank you for going through all my writings and appreciating them. Most of all, thank you for your patience and I really am going to continue blogging for a while. Another big thank you to all those friends who keep reminding me that I'm a blogger and I should post at least one review every week. Here's to the next 80!
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